For quick fix, repair to the cafe

If something is broken, do not throw it out — take it to the new Repair Cafe Albany.

For the first time, the long-running Repair Cafe program will be starting up in Albany.

Volunteers with different skills such as sewing, electronics and woodwork will meet once a month.

Anyone is welcome to bring their damaged goods along to be fixed.

With an environmentally friendly focus, the cafe does much more than save goods from being thrown away.

Organiser Indu Scott said it aimed to create a community and spark conversations about skills, encouraging younger people to repair and upcycle.

“Repair Cafe is also meant to put people in touch with each other in a new way,” she said.

“Also to discover that a lot of know-how and practical skills can be found close to home. We wish to help create a stronger local community.

"If you repair a bike, a broken toy or a pair of trousers together with a previously unfamiliar local person, you look at that person in a different light the next time you run into them on the street.”

Repairs will be made free-of-charge and the owners can watch on as the volunteers share their knowledge and skills.

She said the concept started more than a decade ago in the Netherlands and she had seen how well it worked in Perth and other Australian towns.

“We throw away piles of stuff in WA, even things that have nothing wrong with them. We want to change that,” she said.

“You actually pick up the skills and get involved when you drop the items off.”

Hopes for the program are high. More than 25 volunteers have already expressed interest in helping out.

A public forum will be held on Tuesday, June 4 at 5.30pm at the Albany Public Library.

The first Repair Cafe session is expected to be held in July. The location of the cafe should be confirmed in coming weeks.

For information, visit the Repair Cafe Albany Facebook page.