The skills you need might be closer than you think

​By Jenny Lindsay

It’s such a pain to organise repairs, isn’t it? Just looking at the tool that just died, or the torn bag, or vacuum that no longer sucks – well, it all just sucks!

Many of us just have no idea where to start, other than Googling a repairer or the manufacturer, and the cost is just not something we want to deal with right now. Alternatives take time to search for. So, that thing gets pushed back into the cupboard for one day when you’ve got time to tackle that job.

​“If only I knew someone who could take a look at this for me.”

The solution might be right next door

Your local Repair Café could be the solution you’re after. And yet, it’s a mysterious adventure for visitors who are experiencing the operation for the first time.

“Um, I saw you guys were open, I’ve just brought this in, not sure if you could do anything about it…”

Sound familiar?
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​Well, you never know, we’ll take a look at it and see what we can do!

Timely assistance

We recently celebrated International Repair Café Week with the Footscray Community Bike Shed as our guest fixers.

All of a sudden our volunteers realised this was a golden opportunity.

Fiona said “I’ve been meaning to get someone to look at my bike”

Our Fearless Leader (Founder and Coordinator) Michelle said “I’ve got this thing on my bike I need to get looked at…”
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How lucky to have bike repairer Dave to the rescue. He clearly didn’t know what he was in for when he offered to join our session!

Hidden superpowers

It’s the conversations at the desk that can prompt a friendly offer from a neighbouring fixer. Or even another visitor!

During one memorable session, a sewing machine in for repair caught the eye of one of our visitors. She’d initially brought in a home appliance for repair. A keen sewer herself, she offered to take a look at the sewing machine that was on the fritz. That was one way to make best use of her time while her item was being fixed.

Then, two of our visitors who were handy with a needle and thread, soon moved to the other side of the desk to lend their skills. That was a life-saver as we had more sewing repairs than we could handle that day.

By becoming fixers and helping out other visitors, the visitors, too, had the chance to connect and chat with others who had come in for a bit of help to rescue some broken, worn or torn gear.
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Have those conversations with your neighbours – you never know what superpower they’re hiding. Something truly special happens in the exchange of skills, experience and goodwill at our local Repair Café.