General News
23 May, 2025
Volunteers at cafe ‘fix it’ again
VOLUNTEERS at the Port Fairy Repair Café have once again fixed, mended and repaired several items for the community.
The café, which opened its doors to the public last Saturday morning, was alive with volunteers eager to help those who needed a hand with a wide variety of common household items.
From its ‘home’ at the Port Fairy Community House, the cafe volunteers welcomed a steady stream of visitors throughout the morning who were eager to take along items in need of repair.
In addition to the usual team of volunteer fixers who were ready to tackle everything from bikes to blenders, this month also featured a special opportunity for knitting and crochet enthusiasts.
Local crafter Hera Gibbs offered her time and talents to help community members with all kinds of yarn-related challenges.
With over 65 years of experience in knitting and crochet, Hera is well-versed in everything from basic repairs to complex patterns.
“People often start a project with great enthusiasm but hit a wall,” Hera said.
“Maybe the pattern is confusing, or they’ve made a mistake they’re not sure how to fix.
“Sometimes it’s an older item with sentimental value, like a hand-knitted toy or a blanket, and it just needs a bit of care to bring it back to life. I love helping people find a way forward.”
Beyond wool and yarn, the Repair Café also remained true to its core mission – to reduce waste, share skills and build connections within the community.
The repair café provides a welcoming space where locals can not only get things fixed for free (donations are appreciated), but also learn from the repair process and meet others who care about sustainability and resourcefulness.
