Broken chair? Blown amp? Busted washing machine? They don’t have to be thrown away! These Mid Mountains fixers and makers will revive them.
Key Points:
Waste is a huge global problem with 99 percent of new purchases getting thrown away within 6 months.
Repairing, mending, repurposing and regifting can reduce waste going into landfill.
Here in the Mid Mountains we have a plethora of repairers and makers, swappers and repurposers ready to help extend the life of our goods.
In the Japanese art of Kintsugi, or ‘golden joinery,’ a lacquer mixed with powered gold is used to visibly repair broken ceramics. The artwork honours the imperfection, highlighting the breakage as part of the object’s history, rather than using it as a reason to throw the thing away. While the practice can be viewed as both art and philosophy, it is also quite simply… waste-reducing.
This results in 2,120,000,000 tons of waste being dumped on the planet every year.
Whether for the sake of art, like Kintsugi, or for the environment, mending, fixing, repurposing, regifting and repairing things instead of throwing them away are simple ways we can reduce these numbers. Here in the Blue Mountains, the ease of disposability is being challenged and matched by fixers, menders and repairers of all sorts. Below is a guide to a few excellent options you will find in the Mid Mountains.
Not quite kintsugi, but philosophically aligned, this visibly mended garment by Mid Mountains’ Robyn Maloney embraces the ‘imperfection’ and extends its life.
Needle vs Thread
From the owner: “Needle vs Thread is a multidisciplinary design studio and upholstery workshop based in Hazelbrook.
For 16 years, Kirrily Walker has built a brand and reputation based around handmade vegan bags and accessories. In 2022, upholstery and furniture restoration joined the list of what we do.
Our upholstery services include:
Full reupholstery of dining chairs, armchairs, sofas, ottomans and outdoor furniture
New cushions including bench/window seat cushions and outdoor cushions
Replacement cushion covers or foam inserts
Zipper, webbing and frame repairs and timber restoration.”
This is a local, family-owned business, employing local artisans and makers.
From the owner: “The Australian Repair Shop has become the ‘go to’ workshop for just about every conceivable repair. From traditional woodwork and metalwork, ceramics, leatherwork, upholstery, jewellery, clockmaking, lead lights, picture framing, toys & collectables, electrical and all the modern technologies like laser engraving, CNC routing and 3D printing. Our range of services is exhaustive and there’s almost no trade we don’t offer, we are also continuing to expand our range of services to ensure we are a genuine ‘one-stop-shop’ for all repairs and personalised projects.
Our business is a combination of social enterprise with an ethos of upcycling and sustainability, backed by: Good ‘old fashioned’ trade services.”
Location: 481 Great Western Highway, Faulconbridge NSW 2776
Trading hours: Weekdays 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm
Mark from The Australian Repair Shop says they have a go at fixing anything that can fit through the door. Their full story can be read here.
Central Mountains Men’s Shed
The Men’s Shed is a great option for those wishing to repair or create their own things. Whether you are a beginner wanting to upskill, or an expert wanting the company of others and/or the shared use of space and tools, the Shed is welcoming to all (not just men!).
You can drop into the Men’s Shed Tuesday-Thursday at 5-17 Queens Road, Lawson
A handful of fixers at the Men’s Shed in Lawson. Read our full story on the Men’s Shed here.
Blue Mountains Women’s Shed
Similarly to the Men’s Shed, the Women’s Shed is a place to upskill or use your existing skills to mend, repair and create your own things in a shared space, using shared tools. The Women’s Shed is specifically for women.
From the owner: “I’m a qualified Engineer with over 30 years experience supporting individual musicians to achieve their best tonal quality possible through modifications, repairs or re-builds of their amplifiers or guitars. Also offering custom builds.
I am passionate about re-furbishing ‘Phoenixing’ old vacuum tube guitar amps and stereo amplifiers built in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Bringing them back to useful life and out of the appalling ‘land fill’ generation that has been created by cheap overseas manufacturing processes!”
Guy Saltis will repair guitars of all varieties as well as violins, cellos, violas and double basses.
Location – Lawson
Contact: 0405 006 465
Photo supplied.
Boomerang Bags
Turn fabric waste into bags and other useful items with Boomerang Bags Blue Mountains. Sewing bees are open to all and held every first Saturday of the month. You can hone your sewing skills and help the planet at the same time.
For our earlier story on Boomerang Bags Blue Mountains click here.
Australian Parents 4 Climate Action Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains branch of Australian Parents 4 Climate Action offers an excellent regifting opportunity for parents – quarterly kids’ clothes and toy swaps held at the Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre in Lawson.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Join Rotarians for Planetary Health on International Women`s Day, from 2.30-4pm Sun 8 March, for the opening of a portrait display to celebrate local women who have made a meaningful impact on protecting animals and nature. The photographs by Sue Lightfoot and others are part of a long-term initiative to build a living, community-driven database of women working to protect animals and the natural world.
The display will be open until 1 April, Thursday to Saturday, 9.30am–3.30pm at the Junction 142 Village markets (church space). As the project develops, community members will be invited to nominate women whose work deserves recognition.
The launch follows the Uniting Church and Plant Inspired`s monthly community luncheon from 12-2pm, which this month features the Older Women`s Network Blue Mountains. For more information contact 0434 691 496 (Teya)
In a world being threatened by war, greed, cruelty and selfishness, the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend will close with a gathering of people who have faith that kindness, generosity, love, creativity and community, and the healing of our land, are a better way forward. We`re thrilled that harpist Dawn Egan will be performing at this inspiring event in the Planetary Health exhibition space. Afternoon tea will be provided. Register to attend here (link in profile under Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Had lunch yet? Head over to the Planetary Health Centre for these delicious offerings from @8thingskatoomba today (Sat 28 Feb): South Indian dosa, Korean bao, NY Cheese burger, Bali nasi, Mullum tofu fries, shoestring fires & red bean mochi!
Don`t miss hearing Andrew Skeoch at 2pm today at the Planetary Health Centre! He`s an acoustic ecologist and author of `Deep Listening to Nature` and uses technology to help identify the different `conversations` happening in the world around us. His presentations are a revelation! Reserve your spot here (link in profile under Planetary Health Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Experience the joy and sense of purpose that connecting to community, nature, and your own creativity can provide this weekend at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend. There will be delicious food and coffee, music, art, workshops, nature walks, talks, an Interfaith Gathering and the following stalls:
Food vendor: @8thingskatoomba Zensational Coffee Cart @blue_mts_conservation_society Blue Mountains Wildplant Rescue Blue Mountains Women`s Health & Resource Centre (BMWHRC) Greater Blue Mountains Rotary @permaculturematters Acoustic Ecologist and author of ‘Deep Listening to Nature’, Andrew Skeoch @lacebrookstitchery Sustainable death care BMCC Sustainability and Waste team BMCC Bushcare team View the full program and reserve your spot for a range of activities here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Are humans the only species capable of grief? While grief is often treated as a uniquely human experience, any animal capable of forming attachments also has the capacity to grieve. Join Teya Brooks Pribac, author of ‘Animal Grief and Spirituality: Cross-Species Perspectives’ at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Sat 28 Feb, as she reviews key theoretical foundations of cross-species grief. The flip side of deeply caring for animals is the grief we also feel when we lose them - beloved companion animals, wildlife, or animals harmed by human activity. By validating both nonhuman animal grief and human grief for other animals, this presentation invites a more compassionate and inclusive understanding of loss. Reserve your spot here (link in profile for Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Would you like to help those around you who may be struggling with their mental health? Come along to the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Sat 28 Feb for an Introduction to Mental Health First Aid. Rotarian Ian Scott will define mental health, talk briefly about the most common mental health issues in Australia, and cover the basics of recognising when someone is experiencing a mental health issue or problem. He`ll outline what is covered in a full Mental Health First Aid course. We are planning to deliver a course later this year so it`s a great opportunity to learn more. Reserve your spot here (Link in profile for PH Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
At our Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Sat 28 Feb, Christopher Smith and Juan Roberson, Shared Reading facilitators, will introduce how the reading and discussion of great short stories and poetry can change lives and strengthen social connection, compassion, and empathy. Shared Reading, or social bibliotherapy, for all ages, is one of the most inspiring and magical ways of dealing with loneliness and the struggles of the human condition. "Shared reading makes the process of revealing who you are to other people safer." Learn how groups can be run in-person and online. Reserve your spot here (Wellness Weekend link in profile): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
You can view Christopher Smith`s TED Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=dAxk61E0R88
It`s just under a week until the Blue Mountains Interfaith Gathering on Sun 1 March, starting with a smoking ceremony by Chris Tobin at 2pm. It`s the culmination of the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend which is looking at physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Afternoon tea will be provided. Reserve your spot here (link in profile under Wellness Weekend): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Join Harumi Hayakawa for an introduction to ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Saturday 28 February. You’ll get hands-on practice creating an arrangement and learn about the history and philosophy of ikebana, and how this calm, meditative practice uses flowers as a gentle and creative form of therapy. Reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Learn how to incorporate meditation and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction into your life at our Planetary Health Wellness Weekend on Sat 28 Feb. Experience a short interactive mindfulness activity led by Betty Ramsay, physio and health coach at The University of Sydney. She has years of experience working with people who are living with life stresses including caring roles, work demands, pain, chronic illness, depression, and anxiety. Reserve your spot for this inspiring and free event here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Thought about doing yoga but never tried it? Join Sheila Annis from Mountain Mist Yoga in Woodford to experience how this rich and vast practice can lead you on a path to better health, and can even be practised from a chair! Reserve your spot for the Chair Yoga session on Sat 28 Feb at the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend in Katoomba here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-wellness-weekend
Learn more about Mountain Mist Yoga here: https://mountainmistyoga.com/
Belle Butler is a writer, musician and occasional photographer. She likes mix-and-matching these artforms and often explores the same themes through each of them. Her short fiction has been published in numerous Australian literary journals and she recently received a WestWords Fellowship and Mentorship with Delia Falconer for her novel manuscript, ‘River.’ Hopefully it will be published one day.
Andy Klotz and other members of the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society recently managed to photograph the rarely seen and endangered Litoria littlejohni, also known as the Northern Heath Frog or Orange-bellied Tree Frog. We interviewed Andy to learn more about the Littlejohni and how they managed to find its small local population in Woodford.
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