Dunsborough repair co-op marks first anniversary of community repairs

A sustainability-driven South West business is celebrating one year of free repairs for its local community by taking its volunteer repair shop on the road. The Community Repair Co-Op — by A Single Leaf South West — will run a pop-up community repair workshop at the Dunsborough Easter Fair on March 30. The repair co-op aims to keep valuable resources out of landfill and avoid the need to buy new items by working to repair broken ones. It is run entirely by volunteers, who provide the service free of charge. A Single Leaf South West owner Jo Kennedy said as well as getting goods repaired, unusual recycling items could be dropped off to them. “It is such a joy to see new life breathed into old objects and the smiles on the owners’ faces as they learn new skills to restore their precious belongings,” she said. “The motto of A Single Leaf South West is ‘sustainable living made simple’ and this really is a simple way to reduce your waste. “On top of all this, if you have any questions about sustainability we can answer those too.” Volunteer repairs include small issues with clothes, small furniture items and sharpening knives. This year the workshop crew will be expanding their services to include providing basic instruction in sewing machine use.