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.
Did you know that the Peace Symbol, designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958, is based on flag semaphore signals? The vertical line represents the semaphore signal for "D" (for disarmament), and the downward lines represent "N" (for nuclear). Design and make your own Peace Badge at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium and Peace Picnic on Saturday 2nd August at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre (bookings here (link in profile: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium).
On another one of the badges below, the phrase "Hell no, we won`t go" is one which gained prominence in Australia during the Vietnam War, when conscription was introduced. Many young men refused to be conscripted, leading to protests, demonstrations, and the formation of anti-war movements. These movements, including the Moratorium campaigns, played a significant role in shaping public opinion and ultimately contributing to the end of Australia`s involvement in the war.
The Planetary Health Peace Symposium is bringing together veterans of the Peace Movement (including an organiser of the Moratorium campaign), Rotary and Quakers, Robert Tickner AO (ambassador for ICAN: the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), Mayor Mark Greenhill, a signatory of Mayors for Peace, Susan Templeman MP, Indonesian Ambassador Dr Siswo Pramono on Indonesia’s ratification of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, as well as community members concerned about a world increasingly consumed by war. On the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, participate in a program of talks, film, stalls, music, art and a Community Peace Picnic as, together, we take urgent action for nuclear disarmament and peace.
It`s been 80 years since the horror of nuclear weapons was first unleashed with the US bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Find out how we can work together to stop this madness and grow a Movement for Peace at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium on Saturday 2nd August. The day will include presentations by Robert Tickner AO, the Ambassador for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN); Mayor Mark Greenhill on Mayors for Peace; Susan Templeman MP; Dr Siswo Pramano: Indonesian Ambassador; veterans of the Peace Movement and young activists; Rowe Morrow OAM from Quakers; Jennifer Scott AM from Rotary International; journalist Harumi Hayakawa; and Dharug man Chris Tobin. It will also include a film screening, and a Community Peace Picnic with food, exhibition, stalls, badge and origami crane making and live music with the Bearded Ladies Community Choir. The Symposium has been organised by the Blue Mountains Peace Collective and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Please share to help us grow a movement and book your tickets at the link below (link in profile):
The Bushcare Seed Collectors are meeting today from 10am to 3pm at the Planetary Health Centre. It`s a great way to learn more about propagating native plants. Watch our video below and read more in Katoomba Area Local News: https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/bushcare-seed-collectors/...
The Bushcare Seed Collectors are meeting today from 10am to 3pm at the Planetary Health Centre. It`s a great way to learn more about propagating native plants. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News: https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/bushcare-seed-collectors/ (link in profile)
We are holding School Holiday workshops for young people on Thursday 17 July. In these fun workshops with Sherlie Mcmillan (known for her Fashion Upcycling and Women`s Shed workshops) young people will be introduced to woodwork and textile crafts with a great teacher! Accompanying adults welcome.
Book for the Weaving and Embroidery Workshop for 6-8 yr olds here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/weaving-and-embroidery-workshop-for-6-8yr-olds
Book for the Workshop for 8-12 yr olds to Create a Pom Pom Launcher, Pom Poms and Headband here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/create-a-pom-pom-launcher-pom-poms-and-headband
Our new Planetary Health Newsletter includes the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium, School Holiday Workshops, today`s Planetary Health Bushcare, a story about a Men`s Group in Lawson, a workshop on Designing Your Future Home, and information on how to prepare for Bushfire Season with Council`s chipping service. You can read it here: https://bit.ly/3TkWGRj (link in profile) #planetaryhealth #peace #peacesymposium #bluemountains #schoolholidayworkshops #hope #solutions #mensgroup #katoomba...
The Community Tree Planting Day for the Glossy Black Cockatoo is on this Saturday 5 July near Cowra! Learn more about how you can help grow connected landscapes to save the Glossy Black, including more about the Community Tree Planting Day, by fast forwarding to 48mins in our video "Falling in Love with Glossy Black Cockatoos" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCERdF21Ud0&t=2075s
Register your interest to join everyone at the Tree Planting Day here:
Join us for this fabulous workshop: Designing Your Future Home on Saturday 19 July (10am-12 noon) Create a Healthy, Comfortable and Energy-Efficient Home
Join local Passive House Designer Karina Rafailov from Earthy Haus for a relaxed, interactive, and inspiring workshop. Whether you’re planning a new build or thinking about a renovation, this session will empower you with the knowledge to create a home that’s healthier for your family and kinder to the planet.
Places are strictly limited in this hands-on workshop so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/workshop-designing-your-future-home-tickets-1417752157869
As an increasing number of people are being affected by winter viruses, we’re offering a free session of Tai Chi and Qigong on Saturday 5 July in the warmth of our beautiful Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition. Places are limited so book in early here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/40fnGW2 Learn more about these Chinese medicine movement practices in the video interview with Virginia Field on our YouTube channel (link in profile) and read about how Chinese medicine helped her overcome illness as a young woman in our story: Healing Body, Mind and Spirit with Tai Chi and Qigong here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/tai-chi-and-qigong/
If you’re interested in learning how to propagate native plants and are keen to help our bush regenerate, the Bushcare Seed Collectors meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Check out how they cook Banksias to release their seed and learn more about the group, and native seed collecting, in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/bushcare-seed-collectors/
If you’d like to join the group, contact the Bushcare officer Tracy Abbas on 4780 5623 or email tabbas@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
Littlejohni, the Rare and Endangered Northern Heath Frog, photographed in Woodford!
When the Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition opened at the Planetary Health Centre in March it featured photos of 20 different local frogs. We were thrilled, however, when Andy Klotz and other members of the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society recently managed to photograph another frog in Woodford: the rarely seen and endangered Litoria littlejohni, also known as the Northern Heath Frog or Orange-bellied Tree Frog. We’ve added a photo of that frog to the exhibition and created a new Frogs of the Blue Mountains video in which you can listen to its call on our YouTube channel. We interviewed Andy to learn more about the Littlejohni and how they managed to find its small local population. You can read this story in Mid Mountains Local News (link in profile). #biodiversity #bluemountainsfrogs #northernheathfrog #litorialittlejohni #bluemountains #woodford #planetaryhealth #hawkesburyherpetologicalsociety...
Our newsletter is now out! Read about how you can contribute to @bluemountainscitycouncil`s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy; watch our video on Falling in Love with Glossy Black Cockatoos; see the new photos of the rare Northern Heath Frog; watch how the Bushcare Seed Collectors cook banksias to release their seeds; learn more about Tai Chi and Qigong, the Chinese medicine movement practices; and take part in our next workshop on Designing Your Future Home with Passive House Designer Karina Rafailov from @earthy_haus
Read it here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/40e4GHr
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.
The concept of planetary health is rapidly gaining attention globally, as the world increasingly confronts the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and public health crises. But what does the term 'planetary health' really mean, and why does it matter?
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