Cardiff Boomerang Bags Sewing Group Has Ceased To Operate
The impact of the COVID pandemic on our group has eventually been severe, with our volunteers showing signs of caution, and the number of regular sewers diminishing to its lowest number in Boomerang Bags history. Whilst there has been no dramatic change in shopper’s habits, we are finally seeing a decreased use of plastic shopping bags at supermarkets. These and other factors, plus a survey of our regular sewers, has convinced us that the time was right to disband Cardiff Boomerang Bags.
On Sunday 30th November 2022, Cardiff Boomerang Bags came to a close. Thank you to those of our volunteers who attended our final get together.
In 2017 a Lake Macquarie woman, Claire Stewart, started Lake Macquarie Boomerang Bags in an effort to rid the Lake area of single use plastic shopping bags. Claire had to leave the area not long after, and for the next 5 years, Anna Dowley expertly led the group as its range of items produced expanded to include fruit & veggie bags, and a variety of bag sizes - all produced from recycled fabric obtained by donation.
After a name change and almost 6 years later, the efforts of everyone involved have resulted in at least 1,000 bags being cut and sewn, meaning that an estimated 203,000 plastic bags per year NOT being used.
Over 6 years, that’s a massive 1.218 million plastic bags NOT used in supermarkets and shops locally - a massive success.
One of the other incredibly positive outcomes of the Boomerang Bags Sewing Groups, something that wasn’t originally planned for, was the wonderful social cohesion that was achieved. The groups were always friendly and inviting, with positive social interaction occurring simultaneously with the bag sewing. As the years went by this improvement in our volunteer's social environment became just as important as any improvement in their physical environment.
Due to the new friendships that were formed, many of our previous volunteers are now still volunteering together on other worthwhile projects in our community.
Massive thanks are owed to Claire, Anna, Cassandra, Barry, Cardiff Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and The Canopy, for their leadership and administrative roles in making all of this happen.
Also, the Lake Macquarie community owes a massive vote of thanks to everyone who was involved - for your wonderful contribution to improving our local environment - an incredible effort.
We also need to record our thanks to Cardiff North Public School for the use of their library.
Thank you to all of the volunteers.
On Sunday 30th November 2022, Cardiff Boomerang Bags came to a close. Thank you to those of our volunteers who attended our final get together.
In 2017 a Lake Macquarie woman, Claire Stewart, started Lake Macquarie Boomerang Bags in an effort to rid the Lake area of single use plastic shopping bags. Claire had to leave the area not long after, and for the next 5 years, Anna Dowley expertly led the group as its range of items produced expanded to include fruit & veggie bags, and a variety of bag sizes - all produced from recycled fabric obtained by donation.
After a name change and almost 6 years later, the efforts of everyone involved have resulted in at least 1,000 bags being cut and sewn, meaning that an estimated 203,000 plastic bags per year NOT being used.
Over 6 years, that’s a massive 1.218 million plastic bags NOT used in supermarkets and shops locally - a massive success.
One of the other incredibly positive outcomes of the Boomerang Bags Sewing Groups, something that wasn’t originally planned for, was the wonderful social cohesion that was achieved. The groups were always friendly and inviting, with positive social interaction occurring simultaneously with the bag sewing. As the years went by this improvement in our volunteer's social environment became just as important as any improvement in their physical environment.
Due to the new friendships that were formed, many of our previous volunteers are now still volunteering together on other worthwhile projects in our community.
Massive thanks are owed to Claire, Anna, Cassandra, Barry, Cardiff Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group and The Canopy, for their leadership and administrative roles in making all of this happen.
Also, the Lake Macquarie community owes a massive vote of thanks to everyone who was involved - for your wonderful contribution to improving our local environment - an incredible effort.
We also need to record our thanks to Cardiff North Public School for the use of their library.
Thank you to all of the volunteers.
BOOMERANG BAGS AT LIVING SMART FESTIVAL
A roster of our volunteers, sitting at sewing machines and creating fabric shopping bags, drew interested Living Smart Festival 2019 attendees to the Boomerang Bags stall on the Saturday.
There were numerous positive and complimentary comments about the quality and the attractive designs
of the differently sized bags.
There was strong interest about what was done with the bags, as well as enquiries about donating fabric or sewing machines, and when and where our Workshops are held - the event greatly enhanced the profile of Boomerang Bags in the Lake Macquarie area.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised to hear that over the past 15 months, our volunteers had created enough shopping bags to stop at least 60,000 plastic bags from being used.
People also responded by buying the majority of the large and small shopping bags, bottle and fruit & vegie bags that were on display - an amazing 119 individual items were purchased, adding some very useful funds with which to restock the constant supply of expendables required. Our volunteer team will need to get cracking to build up another supply to replace all of the bags purchased.
A very special THANK YOU to every one of our helpers on the day.
There were numerous positive and complimentary comments about the quality and the attractive designs
of the differently sized bags.
There was strong interest about what was done with the bags, as well as enquiries about donating fabric or sewing machines, and when and where our Workshops are held - the event greatly enhanced the profile of Boomerang Bags in the Lake Macquarie area.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised to hear that over the past 15 months, our volunteers had created enough shopping bags to stop at least 60,000 plastic bags from being used.
People also responded by buying the majority of the large and small shopping bags, bottle and fruit & vegie bags that were on display - an amazing 119 individual items were purchased, adding some very useful funds with which to restock the constant supply of expendables required. Our volunteer team will need to get cracking to build up another supply to replace all of the bags purchased.
A very special THANK YOU to every one of our helpers on the day.
2019 WORKSHOP REPORTS - by Barry
A group of our regular volunteers, gathered in the comfortable school Library for the most recent Boomerang Bags Sewing Workshops.
Many of the team arrived with shopping bags which they had sewn together at home during the past month - and they continued the trend for the team to produce good quality and attractive looking bags.
A group of our regular volunteers, gathered in the comfortable school Library for the most recent Boomerang Bags Sewing Workshops.
Many of the team arrived with shopping bags which they had sewn together at home during the past month - and they continued the trend for the team to produce good quality and attractive looking bags.
Over 40 new shopping bags are regularly added to the yearly tally by the end of each Workshop.
Anna has estimated that over 350 shopping bags have been sewn since we started adding the Boomerang Bags Logo – with many hundreds completed prior to that date. The Canopy continues to have an extensive list of needy groups and individuals to whom the bags are given.
I’ve seen an estimate that one reusable bag being used in the community, saves 170 plastic bags from going into the environment – so that’s over 60,000 plastic bags saved by our efforts.
If you are unable to attend the Workshops for the full time, at least drop in and pick up fabric and patterns, sew some bags at home, and return at the next session with the completed bags.
The Workshops are a great way to meet local people in a friendly and supportive environment.
Anna has estimated that over 350 shopping bags have been sewn since we started adding the Boomerang Bags Logo – with many hundreds completed prior to that date. The Canopy continues to have an extensive list of needy groups and individuals to whom the bags are given.
I’ve seen an estimate that one reusable bag being used in the community, saves 170 plastic bags from going into the environment – so that’s over 60,000 plastic bags saved by our efforts.
If you are unable to attend the Workshops for the full time, at least drop in and pick up fabric and patterns, sew some bags at home, and return at the next session with the completed bags.
The Workshops are a great way to meet local people in a friendly and supportive environment.
A BIG THANK YOU
to everyone who attended our Workshops in 2018
YOU ALL HAVE MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT TO HELP
KEEP LAKE MAC PLASTIC FREE
to everyone who attended our Workshops in 2018
YOU ALL HAVE MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT TO HELP
KEEP LAKE MAC PLASTIC FREE
NOVEMBER 2018 WORKSHOP REPORT - by Barry
The 6 months of monthly Boomerang Bags Sewing Workshops ended on a high note.
As had become a pattern, regular attendees arrived on the day with piles of finished recycled-fabric shopping bags, which they had sewn at home during the past month - I’m hopeless at keeping count, but there must have been about 25 to 30 bags. Another 10 to 15 were completed at the final Workshop.
Lidija, who is a member of Redhead Sustainable Neighbour Group, took a number of finished bags, along with copies of printed “how to sew bags patterns”, which she will sell and give away at the Redhead SNG stall at the Redhead SLSC Xmas Fundraising Markets on 12th December. Lidija was impressed with our Boomerang Bags efforts at the CASNG Car Boot Sale, and wants to repeat that at Redhead.
Anna from The Canopy, who has very ably looked after the sewing side of things, continues to find important uses for the bags that are made - with many being used to distribute food parcels to needy families - previously, donations would most likely have been handed out in plastic bags.
CASNG and The Canopy have made important contributions to cutting the use of plastic in Lake Mac.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with everyone rating the Workshops, 5 out of 5. They loved getting together with like minded people - “wonderful camaraderie”; “learning from others”; Doing something positive to help the environment & the community”; "sharing ideas”; “very sociable”; “great morning tea/lunch”; “positive atmosphere”; “companionship” - are a selection of some of the comments.
Where they found out about the Workshops is an interesting result – 50% from the Eco Advocate; 40% from the Newcastle Weekly; 10% from the CASNG Newsletter.
The only negative note - “don’t schedule Christmas events on the same day” - was something CASNG certainly hadn’t originally planned, and can easily be avoided next year. Kiani, and her mother Kim, are an inspiration though - after attending the Beeswax Wrap Making Workshop in Cardiff South earlier in the day, Kiani & Kim dropped over to Cardiff North to leave the 5 shopping bags Kiani had sewn at home over the past couple of weeks.
All of the attendees were very keen to continue attending Monthly Workshops in 2019, and consequently, CASNG and The Canopy will hold Monthly Workshops on the last Sunday of each month, January to November, in 2019.
Anna from The Canopy has done a fabulous job bringing supplies of fabric and thread to the workshops, getting fabric cut to shape, and in distributing the completed bags - I wouldn’t have been able to run the Workshops without her help – many thanks to Anna.
But in particular, a big thank you to the 22 community volunteers who contributed their time and talent, to help make Lake Macquarie plastic bag free.
The 6 months of monthly Boomerang Bags Sewing Workshops ended on a high note.
As had become a pattern, regular attendees arrived on the day with piles of finished recycled-fabric shopping bags, which they had sewn at home during the past month - I’m hopeless at keeping count, but there must have been about 25 to 30 bags. Another 10 to 15 were completed at the final Workshop.
Lidija, who is a member of Redhead Sustainable Neighbour Group, took a number of finished bags, along with copies of printed “how to sew bags patterns”, which she will sell and give away at the Redhead SNG stall at the Redhead SLSC Xmas Fundraising Markets on 12th December. Lidija was impressed with our Boomerang Bags efforts at the CASNG Car Boot Sale, and wants to repeat that at Redhead.
Anna from The Canopy, who has very ably looked after the sewing side of things, continues to find important uses for the bags that are made - with many being used to distribute food parcels to needy families - previously, donations would most likely have been handed out in plastic bags.
CASNG and The Canopy have made important contributions to cutting the use of plastic in Lake Mac.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with everyone rating the Workshops, 5 out of 5. They loved getting together with like minded people - “wonderful camaraderie”; “learning from others”; Doing something positive to help the environment & the community”; "sharing ideas”; “very sociable”; “great morning tea/lunch”; “positive atmosphere”; “companionship” - are a selection of some of the comments.
Where they found out about the Workshops is an interesting result – 50% from the Eco Advocate; 40% from the Newcastle Weekly; 10% from the CASNG Newsletter.
The only negative note - “don’t schedule Christmas events on the same day” - was something CASNG certainly hadn’t originally planned, and can easily be avoided next year. Kiani, and her mother Kim, are an inspiration though - after attending the Beeswax Wrap Making Workshop in Cardiff South earlier in the day, Kiani & Kim dropped over to Cardiff North to leave the 5 shopping bags Kiani had sewn at home over the past couple of weeks.
All of the attendees were very keen to continue attending Monthly Workshops in 2019, and consequently, CASNG and The Canopy will hold Monthly Workshops on the last Sunday of each month, January to November, in 2019.
Anna from The Canopy has done a fabulous job bringing supplies of fabric and thread to the workshops, getting fabric cut to shape, and in distributing the completed bags - I wouldn’t have been able to run the Workshops without her help – many thanks to Anna.
But in particular, a big thank you to the 22 community volunteers who contributed their time and talent, to help make Lake Macquarie plastic bag free.
AND EVERY MONTH, TWO OR THREE NEW VOLUNTEERS ARRIVE TO HELP OUT.
CASNG and The Canopy would like to sincerely express their appreciation to all of the participants for their hard work on each day, and for their continued efforts to make more bags – they are an inspiring group of people.
CASNG and The Canopy would like to sincerely express their appreciation to all of the participants for their hard work on each day, and for their continued efforts to make more bags – they are an inspiring group of people.
Eventually, any shopping bags produced will be made available to the community to use.
If you would like to help keep the flow of more reusable, fabric shopping bags happening, attend the next Workshop, or just click HERE and let us know if you would like patterns or fabric to get you started at home.
If you would like to help keep the flow of more reusable, fabric shopping bags happening, attend the next Workshop, or just click HERE and let us know if you would like patterns or fabric to get you started at home.
