The so-called “Repair Cafe” in Millicent has just had its busiest session with around a dozen items fixed on Saturday morning.


Organisers were disappointed when just one household item came forward at the May monthly session but delighted with the 12-fold increase.


Coordinator Sandra Young conducted an extensive publicity push in recent weeks and it paid dividends.


“We are very happy with the response,” Ms Young said.


“The extra promotion of the Repair Cafe worked.


“The only item that we could not repair on Saturday was a pair of trousers as this required a sewing machine.


“Among the items successfully repaired were a stroller, chest of drawers, clothes horse, brooch, glasses case, stepladder, clamp, wall hanging and a ceramic elephant ornament.”


Millicent resident Viv Buckland was pleased her wooden chair could be repaired.


Ms Buckland said the chair could not be used with its broken parts.


Members of Millicent’s Men’s Shed and the Millicent Craft Group are participating in the joint venture at their premises in Fifth Street


As the name suggests, basic repairs of general household items are being undertaken on a trial basis for six months.


The concept was generated by Wattle Range Council’s Climate Change Consultative Committee as a way of reducing waste going to dumps.


Council has provided a small amount of seed funding to the two groups to kickstart the project.


The Repair Cafe will be open from 10am to 12pm on July 13 and August 10.