Date:Sat 17 June 2023 Time:9.30am-12.00pm Location: Evanston Gardens Community Centre, 63-65 Angle Vale Rd, Evanston Gardens Bookings: No bookings required, just drop in
Repair Cafes provide a free meeting space where community members can work with skilled volunteers to repair items that would otherwise go to waste. Our volunteers have skills in mending (clothing & textiles), electrical repairs (small appliances), costume jewellery repairs, general repairs (mechanical/woodwork) and simple bike repairs. Services are provided free of charge but customers can choose to make a small donation to support the service if they wish.
Most attendees get to see a repairer straight away but coffee, tea and cake are provided to keep you occupied if you do need to wait.
Also at this session: Free Skills Demo: Upcycled pet toys, jackets and beds Further details TBC
How it all Works
– The repair café philosophy is to teach people how to undertake the repair themselves if possible. For that reason we ask that attendees sit with the repairer while the repair is taking place, so they can observe the process and have a go at it themselves. – All repairs are conducted at the discretion of the repairer; if the repairer isn’t comfortable with conducting the repair, it won’t be undertaken. Items must be in a clean condition for repairers to examine them, textile items must be washed before you bring them in. – There are some items it isn’t possible to repair at the café e.g. microwave ovens and TVs retain charge and it is dangerous to attempt to repair them. Anything containing dangerous substances such as asbestos and lead is also out. We are unable to do repairs that require larger “shed” type equipment e.g. welding. And some items are too tricky to take apart and put back together again, like toasters, sound systems, and of course computers. – Repairers will fix one item per attendee. If there is time they may be able to look at a second item for you, but this will depend on whether others are waiting. – For clothing and textiles we do mending/repairs not alterations. E.g. we can help you darn a hole in a jumper, or repair a rip in a pair of trousers. If you have items of clothing that need to be taken up or in, that is a job for a professional alterations service. We are also unable to make items of clothing. – Our repairers are skilled volunteers. They will try their best to fix your item but there are no guarantees.
If you would like any further information, or if you are interested in becoming a Repair Café volunteer, please contact GEC Coordinator Kathy on 0413 694 477 or coordinator@gawlerenvironmentcentre.org.au
Gawler Environment Centre is grateful for the support provided to this project by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science through the Communities Environment Program.
We strive to live a sustainable life, so how can we continue to honour our eco-friendly values at the end of our life? At the Eco Coffin Project we ask the question: What is a sustainable death? and explore a variety of options to help participants make eco-friendly end-of-life choices. Choosing a natural burial is one of these options. Do you know what a natural burial is? Did you know that we have a natural burial ground right here in Gawler? Come along and be part of the Eco Coffin Project 2023 to find out about all the relevant processes and options.
Program 2023
Sunday 26 March 2023 | 12:30pm – 4:30pm | Workshop Venue: Gawler Environment Centre, 8 Main North Road, Gawler
Pushing Up Daisies workshop to understand how our death system works and to think creatively about your values-based end-of-life plan. Afternoon tea and take-home resources included.
Sunday 2 April 2023 | 12:30pm – 4:30pm | Site visit Enfield & Smithfield Memorial Parks
Site visit for a behind-the-scene guided tour of the crematorium at Enfield Memorial Park and two natural burial grounds; Wirra Wonga and Pilyu Yarta. Lunch included thanks to our host, Adelaide Cemeteries.
Sunday 16 April 2023 | 12:30pm – 4:30pm | Guest speakers Venue: Gawler Environment Centre, 8 Main North Road, Gawler
Examples of decorated coffins and shrouds from past participants.
Afternoon tea and take-home resources included.
April to July 2023 | Decorating eco-coffins & making shrouds (optional)
Decorate your eco-coffin or make your shroud at home over four months. We meet regularly via Zoom meetings to share our progress and have some laughs.
August 2023 | Pushing Up Daisies Exhibition
Our beautiful eco-coffins and shrouds are proudly displayed in the Gawler Civic Centre during all of August as part of the SA Living Arts Festival (SALA). We host an official exhibition launch at the Civic Centre on Tuesday 1 August 2023, 10:30am.
Facilitator
Abby Buckley, Facilitator
Our Facilitator and Developer of the Eco Coffin Project is Abby Buckley. Abby is a Social Ecologist and Funeral Celebrant who finds guidance and inspiration from nature on how to positively embrace death in our everyday lives so we feel connected, empowered and enlivened. Death Cafes, Before I Die Walls, Death Over Dinner and Dying To Know Days are some of the conversation-starting community events she has facilitated in Gawler over the last 5 years along with being an event speaker on topics such as Natural Burial. She facilitates her Pushing Up Daisies workshop for participants keen to develop a toolkit to create their end-of-life plan that matches their budget and sustainability values. Her network and knowledge of the industry developed during her year at Adelaide Cemeteries Authority. She submitted her PhD thesis in August 2022 titled: Creative practices for becoming with death while vitally alive. Through her celebrancy business she creates personalised, values-based ceremonies and rituals to assist people meaningfully navigate love, loss & life.
Thanks to our sponsors and supporters
The Gawler Environment Centre warmly thanks our sponsors and supporters; their continued assistance makes the Eco Coffin Project possible.
Thanks to our sponsors the all inclusive investment for each participant remains at only $100. This incredible value for money price includes:
3 action-packed half-day workshops (12 hours) with refreshments and take-home resources
SA Living Arts (SALA) group entry registration fee
Attendance at exhibition launch with morning tea provided.
Notes: • Making a shroud or decorating an eco-coffin are optional • Shroud and eco-coffin decorating materials are funded by you. • Participants can purchase an eco-coffin at cost price (a huge saving!).
From April to Sept each year the Gawler Environment Centre and Gawler Environment and Heritage Association (GEHA) team up to bring residents of Gawler and surrounding areas the opportunity to purchase cheap locally indigenous plants. The Understorey Project aims to increase biodiversity in our region by encouraging communities to cultivate a variety of local plants, including all ecosystem elements.
Please be aware that orders are to be picked up from the Gawler Environment & Heritage Association nursery. (Other arrangements may be possible, but will involve an additional fee. Please contact us to discuss alternative arrangements before you place an order).
*If you want to place a large order, e.g. more than 20 of 1 species or more than 200 in total, please ring Adrian at the GEHA nursery on 0429004363 to check availability. We only have large numbers of a few species.*
Early orders should be available in late May and then after that up to two weeks from ordering to collection so please don’t worry if you don’t hear back from us straight away. If you require your order in less time, please advise us when placing your order. Some plants, especially a few of the native daisies, only germinate in mid autumn so there may be a bit longer wait. This will be advised when the order is received.
If you have any enquiries about the plants, please contact Adrian on 0429 004 363 or geha1@bigpond.com
If you are interested in smaller herbs and grasses there a quite a few more species available; Adrian can provide you with further information.
How to place an order – read the instructions at 1, 2 & 3 below and then click on the Understorey Project Shop link a the bottom of the page.
1. Decide if you want to order a mixed box or a custom box Note: Orders must be in quantities of 20 or 50 plants
Mixed Box: $25 for 20 plants or $62.50 for 50 plants What is a mixed box? A mixed box will contain species specifically suited to the area you live in. The species in this box will be chosen by the nursery and may contain 3 of one species if thought appropriate ie. grasses are more practical in clumps of 3 or more. This box is great if you are unsure of what to plant, have limited knowledge on what species are specific to your area or if you just want someone else to do the choosing for you.
There are four mixed box options:
Mixed box (standard)
Mixed box with trees (you will get one or more trees with your order)
Mixed box of butterfly attracting plants (an assortment of shrubs and smaller plants which are food source for butterflies)
Mixed box of native bee attracting plants (these are flowering plants of all sizes, please advise in the ORDER NOTES section if you want trees and shrubs included in your order)
If you have specific requests about the type of plants you want/don’t want in your order you can include this in the ORDER NOTES section on the Billing Information page.
Custom Box Cost: $28 for 20 plants or $70 for 50 plants What is a custom box? A custom box allows you to make up your own order from the plants available. We advise creating orders with at least 6 different species and multiples of these ie. grasses are more practical in clumps of 3 or more. This box is great if you know which plants are specific for your area and you know what you want to grow in your garden. Note: Depending on availability of some species we may need to supply a suitable replacement.
2. Placing your order
To order a mixed box:
Select option 7 ‘Mixed Box’ and choose a box(es) of 20 or 50 with trees, without trees, butterfly attracting or native bee attracting.
To order a custom box:
Look at the map below to find out the vegetation association that you live in
Select option 1-6 depending on the area you live in. eg if the map below identifies you as living in the coastal area then select option 2
Select the plants you wish to make up your custom box
Look at the map below to find which vegetation association you live in. This will help you choose appropriate plants when ordering.
Note: Some of the species listed will be in limited numbers and orders may need to be varied. We suggest planting at least 2 or 3 plants for smaller species which will produce better results. It makes the plants easy to identify & covers possible loss of a plant. Garden designers will say it usually produces better design effects. If you want to order large numbers of one or a small number of species – we recommend giving Adrian at Gawler Environment and Heritage Association a call (0429004363).
The information supplied about plants for butterfly and caterpillar use is not complete. Check before eating or using anything. Additional information will be added as available.
At the check-out, enter any specific requests for your order in the ORDER NOTES section eg. “I want all grasses in my mixed box”. “My block is sandy”, “I want half the plants for a drainage area”.
Important! If you are ordering trees or shrubs:
ONLY 5-10% of your order may be made up of TREES (including small, medium and large) eg. In a box of 20 plants 1 or 2 of the plants may be a tree species.
ONLY 10% of your order may be made up of MEDIUM/TALL SHRUBS eg. In a box of 20 plants only 2 of the plants may be medium or tall shrub species. The exception to this is if you are in the Adelaide Plains woodland association where we will provide a higher percentage of shrubs.
Understorey Information & Planting Session
Learn about the plants available from the annual Understorey native plant sale & help out with planting at the GEC bee & butterfly garden. Date: Thu 25 May 2023 Time:2pm-4pm Cost:Free Bookings essential at:Eventbrite Further information: Join Gawler Environment Centre and Gawler Environment and Heritage Association for an info session about the Understorey sale native plants, which ones are suitable for your property, and how to plant and weed them. Pick up some practical tips by helping to plant Understorey bee and butterfly attracting plants at the new GEC garden.
