The Repair Revolution comes to Cromwell

Wastebusters and Connect Cromwell have teamed up to bring a Repair Revolution workshop to Central Otago.

People can bring their broken treasures along to the free event, either to have them fixed or for advice on how they could be repaired.

The joint venture builds on the success of Connect Cromwell’s Repair Cafe and Wastebusters’ Repair Revolution events around the district.

The repair concept, which brings volunteers together to repair broken items so they can be used again, has gained momentum over the past couple of years and now it’s Cromwell’s turn to, once again, play host.

The Cromwell Repair Revolution Workshop will be held at the Cromwell Sports Club on Saturday, October 30. The workshop can be held safely in Level 2 and Level 1.

Connect Cromwell’s Community Facilitator Georgie Affleck said the last Repair Workshop in 2019 was a great success, with dozens of items getting a new lease of life, including mending clothes, fixing bikes and electrical things like hair straighteners.

Barbara Walker watching repairs. Photo Supplied

“We’re delighted to be collaborating with Wastebusters to bring the Repair Revolution Workshop to Cromwell and encourage people to dig out items that need fixing or repairing. We think it’s a great way to get the community together and give older items a new lease of life.”

Volunteers will be on hand at the Repair Revolution Workshop to help repair items throughout the day.

Wastebusters communications coordinator Alexia Johnston said volunteers who shared their time and skills were crucial to the success of previous repair events.

“We were so appreciative of the generosity and enthusiasm of the volunteers. Their collective experience was invaluable.”

The call is going out for volunteer fixers of all kinds to share their talents at Cromwell’s event on the last Saturday in October.

“Whether you’re a pro repairer, or just a handy person, we’d love you to come along and share your repair skills with the community,” Alexia said.

“We need volunteers to fix household items such as computers, electronics, small appliances, small furniture, clothes, jewellery, books, bikes and more.”

Volunteer repairers can sign up and get more information at www.wastebusters.co.nz

Anyone can bring their broken treasures to the events, to receive free advice and repairs. If people know that specific parts are required for their repair, they should also bring these along.

Wastebusters will bring their Repair Revolution tool trailer full of equipment to the event for repairers to use.

The Repair Revolution aims to:

Reduce waste by offering an alternative to our ‘throwaway culture’

Share repair knowledge and skills through Repair Cafe-style events

Demonstrate how satisfying making repairs can be

Build community connections

Model the circular economy in action

“We live in a society that revolves around consumption but we aim to empower people to renew, revive and repair their things to keep them out of landfill,” Abbey said. “We look forward to our communities joining us again at this year’s Repair Revolution events.”