By Derek Schlennstedt
They’ll be sewing in the street on 1 July.
Members of Plastic Bag Free Healesville have taken to sewing machines over the past weeks to launch the use of re-usable boomerang bags in Healesville.
Over 20 stores around Healesville have taken up the cause to support the use of re-usable bags to help reduce the impact of plastic bags, which enter waterways and impact on wildlife.
Healesville IGA, in conjunction with the Plastic Bag Free Healesville group is launching the movement outside the newly ‘plastic-free’ Healesville IGA on Saturday 1 July, between 11am and 2pm.
David Johnston, Member of Plastic Bag Free Healesville, said it was an important step in the right direction to think about the impact plastic bags and packaging had on the environment.
“It’s a philosophical statement to think about what you’re doing and do you really need to take all those plastic bags home with you?”
“Because what are you going to do with those plastic bags – and where are they going to end up?”
Customers are being encouraged to borrow the boomerang bags available at IGA which they then return on their next visit.
But, Plastic Bag Free Healesville have also created their own unique Healesville-branded re-usable bag that features a platypus and was designed by local artist Ali Griffin.
Both the boomerang bags and the Healesville branded bags were all hand-sewn by members of the group from donated materials, and Catherine Nolan, member of Plastic Bag Free Healesville said they had sewn over 300.
“We’ve sewn between us at least 300 bags,” he said. The launch is a start that David hopes will eventually see Healesville become plastic bag free.
“From 1 July, IGA won’t be giving out plastic bags, so bring baskets or get some boomerang bags,” he said.
“There will be music, a choir will sing send-up songs based around not using plastic bags – there will be people sewing and Badger Creek Primary School is doing a sausage sizzle.”
“It’s more a conscience-raiser for people … making people think about what they’re going to do once they’re finished with that plastic bag.”
“We can make a difference for our children and grandchildren,” Mr Johnston said.
