Marsh Mender launches

Sustainability was in the air at the inaugural Marsh Mender Repair Café on Sunday 26 February.

Visitors to the Darley Neighbourhood House were welcomed by the tunes of the AppleFM broadcast, and once inside, an excited team of volunteers to greet them.

It was a great morning with four menders available (sewing, woodwork and mechanical, musical instruments and bike repairs) and many people bringing items for repair including bikes, instruments, clocks, headphones, photo frames, clothing, wooden drawers equating to 52 kg brought in for repair and saved from landfill.

The room was abuzz with people keen on the idea, sharing a chat and enjoying a cuppa. Fruit kindly donated by Foodworks and Marsh Mender Melting Moments gifted from Kez’s Kitchen meant people stayed well fed.

Liz from Switched on Sustainability was on-hand to chat about simple switches every household could make, while Tegan from Big Wellbeing co-hosted an interactive discussion on repairing your sleep.

All eyes now turn to future monthly events and workshops, the next being on Saturday 25 March at 10 am. Menders will be on-hand to help sharpen kitchen knives, repair press studs in leather, bike maintenance and sewing repairs plus more.

Community members with mending skills of any kind are encouraged to join the Marsh Mender Facebook group www.bit.ly/Mendersfb, or email [email protected]. The more the mender!

This project is supported by the Circular Economy Communities Fund. The Fund is delivered by Sustainability Victoria under the Victorian Government’s circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.