THE BOWER Reuse & Repair Centre in Marrickville, New South Wales | Environmental conservation organisation

THE BOWER Reuse & Repair Centre

Locality: Marrickville, New South Wales

Phone: +61 2 9568 6280

Address: Hut 34, 142 Addison Rd 2204 Marrickville, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.bower.org.au

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• Community group
• Community organisation
• Environmental conservation organisation

25.01.2022 Announcement: You may have read Darcy Byrnes post this morning regarding the future of Bower Reuse & Repair Centres and our friends at Reverse Garbage. Both organisations have enjoyed a long and proud history of operating at Addison Road Community Centre, where we have served and been supported by the diverse and prolific community that surrounds us. Thank you. We have fought long and hard to promote the Reuse Sector. Our mission has always been to divert reusable items from... landfill by educating people on the importance of reuse, restoration and repair through our workshops and Repair Cafes. We have been strong advocates for both buying second hand and the Right to Repair and we have expanded to accommodate this growing movement. Bower Reuse & Repair Centres have known for some time that our continued presence at Addison road is unsustainable. We have outgrown the space, and the lack of proper infrastructure and storage is hampering our ability to extend our outreach work, programs and our ability to best serve our community. We are determined to stay in our spiritual heartland of the Inner West. Finding a space that is both affordable and large enough for us to extend our operations is a tall order for a not-for-profit. We have been working for some time with council to find a suitable, long term arrangement. We are so grateful to Inner West Council for their continued support and recognition of the importance of the services that we provide to the local community and beyond. Councils decision to lease the Summer Hill works depot to us demonstrates their commitment to the reuse sector and community. This is a positive move: we will work hard to maintain the relationships we have established at Addi Road, and look forward to collecting new friends in Summer Hill and its surrounds. Vive la Bower & Reuse Forever! #reuserevolution #wheresecondhandcomesfirst #repairdontreplace #sustainabledesign #SustainabilityMatters #circulareconomy #educationinspireschange #socialimpact #righttorepair #innerwestsydney #futureproof

22.01.2022 Berlin - you are cool. How do we encourage the reuse of items that still have life in them? How do we make the idea of reuse appealing to all social groups and not just the environmentally conscious? Maybe this is how. Excellent read by Klaus Sieg on David Byrne’s ‘Reasons To Be Cheerful’.... If a system existed to resell those items to consumers who would otherwise purchase new ones, the environmental benefits would be almost incalculable. Think about all of the resources and energy that a single new item requires: the extraction of raw materials, the production, the transport, the storage. Factories, trucks, warehouses millions of them all of which need to be fueled up, climate controlled, flooded with light and washed down. Discuss! https://reasonstobecheerful.world/berlin-second-hand-used-/ #circulareconomy #reasonstobecheerful #davidbyrne #klaussieg #circular #circularaustralia #closetheloop #closedloop #circulareverything #reuse #repair #choosetoreuse #repairinsteadofreplace #sustainability #choosetoreuse #sustainability #environmentalbenefits

22.01.2022 Proving theyre not to be deterred by a global pandemic, Inner West Council is bringing their annual Footprints Ecofestival online this year. Footprints Online offers panel discussions, videos and activities on sustainability issues relevant to Inner West residents and were stoked to be a part of this community showcase. More info on the full program can be found at http://ow.ly/Lgc350B9qup... Pictured: 2 Bowerbirds in their natural habitat. #sustainablesydney #sustainableinnerwest #culturechange #righttorepair #menditgood

22.01.2022 Join Stu and Jo to learn about bike repair and maintenance.

20.01.2022 Good things come in "Crabby" Packages https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au//carapac-crustace

19.01.2022 RepairWorks! Join us via Facebook Live this Saturday September 5 as Annette & Luke give us the How To on upholstery basics: padding replacement, webbing & structural supports, tools and fabric choices. When it comes to upholstery Bower Reuse & Repair Centres have got you covered! ... #reuserevolution #sustainablelife #upcycle #couchlife #wheresecondhandcomesfirst #repair #woodwork

19.01.2022 Turn Back Time As the closing date for expressions of interest for this years ART from TRASH approaches, we thought wed Turn Back Time to late last year and take a look at the amazing winning entries from our inaugural ART from TRASH exhibition. We cant wait to see to new works from last years entrants, and are similarly excited to welcome new creatives to the ART from TRASH fold.... Please email your expressions of interest to [email protected] prior to September 1. Entries will be exhibited throughout October in our Parramatta premises and at @107projects in Redfern. Pictured: Peoples Choice Award Winner Banksia by Mia Sabel and Judges Award Winners Fractal Cosmos by Katherine Haines & OBSOLETE.COM by Stephanie Powell. #repurpose #upcycle #artfromtrash #junkart #savedfromlandfill #upcycledart #tbt #turnbacktime

18.01.2022 Meet Adrian & Lisa from Arnie’s Recon, a like-minded organisation working hard to increase awareness of the benefits of Reuse. Arnie’s Recon is one of many organisations featured in The Bower’s Reuse Database. If we’re unable to take your household items the Reuse Database can direct you to an organisation who can. You can access the Reuse Database via this link: https://bit.ly/2FYAj1V But back to Arnie’s Recon:... How we work is by taking people’s unwanted items to where they’re wanted. Reuse is the most efficient and least impactful form of recycling. Adrian & Lisa work with a community of families in Africa who are teaching orphaned young men how to repair and sell devices and appliances in order to sustain themselves. Pick up is free within the Sydney Metro area. What is too damaged for reuse is used for parts or recycled as scrap. Nothing goes to landfill. #reuse #reuseforever #repairdontreplace #reuserevolution #choosetoreuse #reuseit #reusereduce #socialenterprise #environmentalenterprise #trailblazers #closetheloop #narrowtheloop #prolongproductlifecycle cc Arnies Recon.

17.01.2022 Roll up your sleeves and get stuck into our Friday Gallery of delights. #reuserevolution #wheresecondhandcomesfirst #innerwestsydney #bowerbird #vintagedecor #weekendshopping Assorted pots of succulents $10-$15 Colourful fedoras $2 each... Beaded handbag $10 Gentlemans closet $140 Antique chest of drawers (with hidden compartment) $220 "News" Sculpture $55 Red Breville Blender $15 Japanese inspired upcycled bedside $150 Vintage tiles $2 each Vintage mini oven $10 Retro ceiling lights $60 See more

17.01.2022 Huge thanks goes out to everyone who voted for Bower Reuse & Repair Centres in the recent Australian Ethical Super community grants program. Our application for funding to support the excellent House To Home program was successful, meaning the Bower can continue to furnish the homes of refugees, asylum seekers, and domestic violence survivors with quality household items. Since the programs inception in 2016, House To Home has helped more than 325 families by giving away goo...ds to the value of almost $100k. Special shout out to our Programs Manager Louise Grace who has made this program so successful and congrats also to our fellow grant recipients. Its a privilege to be listed alongside you all. Greyhound Rescue Mandurah Wildlife Rescue Wildlife Asia Bangalow Koalas Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Australia Wildlife of the Central Highlands - WOTCH Love Mercy Foundation Free to Feed Sustain: The Australian Food Network We Care Connect Ishar Multicultural Womens Health Services Inc Free To Shine Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network Environs Kimberley Rainforest Rescue PlantingSeeds Positive Change for Marine Life

15.01.2022 Annette & Luke give us the How To on upholstery basics: padding replacement, webbing & structural supports, tools and fabric choices. When it comes to upholstery Bower Reuse & Repair Centres have got you covered! Did you know the Bower offers private online repair consultations to assist you with the repair and maintenance of your household items? Visit our website to book your session with one of our wizards: https://bit.ly/30UIDYa... If youre completely confounded, consider bringing in your item for repair or restoration. Visit https://bit.ly/358nEDK for contact details.

15.01.2022 Jack Lagan is Arty Farty, one of our fantastic ART from TRASH entrants this year. Jack has kindly shared some behind-the-scenes snaps from the studio of his work Artificial Reef, and provided insights into his creative process you can read about it on our blog: http://ow.ly/aLDU50BmLcf ART from TRASH will be held at The Bower Parramatta on October 2-4 and 9-11 and at The Bower Woodworks at 107 Redfern on October 16-18 & October 23-25. ... courtesy of Jack Lagan

14.01.2022 Last Call for Votes! This old dear is currently at the mechanic having some urgent repairs done. She needs a bunch of other work done on her to keep her on the road and to protect the safety of the Bowers drivers and off siders. We have applied for a state government Community Building Partnership Grant to fund these repairs and are among the list of finalists. ... We need your vote to get our application over the line. If you havent already, please visit www.johaylen.com/cbp2020 and chuck us a vote so we can get our truck properly repaired and back on the road. She has an important job to do. Voting closes Friday September 11. Thanks friends! #bowerpower #repairdontreplace #safetyfirst #innerwestsydney #nswgovernment #summerhill

14.01.2022 Wanted - Electrical Workshop Volunteers Were working on a couple of new workshops and are in need of 5 or so volunteers with an interest in learning about electrical theory. No previous experience or knowledge is necessary. Day and time is Sat Sept 19 between 10am - 2pm. Location is our Banga workshop in Zetland. We operate within a COVID-safe environment.... Please email [email protected] or drop us a line via messenger for more info.

13.01.2022 Did you know the Bower runs online 1-on-1 workshops every Saturday between 1-3pm via Zoom? This Saturday 19/9 Stu and Jo are available to answer your questions and provide advice on bike repairs. Next Saturdays session on 26/9 will be fielded by Griffin and Andre who can help you with all sorts of minor electrical issues. The Bower wants to empower you to attempt minor repairs on your own! Of course if its an extra tricky issue you can bring it in to one of our workshops.... More info at: https://bit.ly/30UIDYa #fixit #mendit #menditgood #electricalrepairs #bikesbikesbikes #bikerepairs #repairdontreplace #sustainability #livesustainably

13.01.2022 The Bower is particularly vibing on the theme of Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week in 2020: ‘Recovery A future beyond the bin’. We’re not going to recycle our way out of this one; we reckon reducing and reusing is key.... Enter Buy It Back Day on Saturday November 14 a day to celebrate National Recycling Week through reuse! That’s a celebration we can get behind and what better way to celebrate than with a SAUSAGE SIZZLE! Yes, join us at our Marrickvillle Store and help us celebrate reuse. With a sausage! All proceeds will be put towards The Bower’s House to Home program which sees us divert quality used household goods from landfill while helping asylum seekers and survivors of domestic violence. The sizzle kicks off at 11. You can Buy It Back from us any day of the week! #reduce #reuse #narrowtheloop #closetheloop #NationalRecyclingWeek #GoBeyondtheBin #zerowaste #sustainableliving #repair #repairdontreplace #wastefreeliving #climateaction @planetark

12.01.2022 Check out this awesome initiative from City of Sydney happening this Saturday 5th September. A drop off day open to everyone where you can recycle all number of tricky items including textiles, soft plastics and e-waste. Start decluttering now! https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au//recycle-it-saturd

12.01.2022 Uh. So. This job came through Bower Woodworks recently. Apparently you need a sign to find the G Spot these days who knew?! Bower Woodworks accepts commissions from private clients and is happy to work with you to design and realise projects made from salvaged timber and other resources at highly competitive prices. Link: https://bit.ly/3p7CIcp... #woodworking #woodworks #gspot #gspots #reuse #repurpose #repurposed #signage #signageinspiration #amusement #juvenilehumor #juvenilehumour

11.01.2022 Consignment Corner There are some super-clever people selling items on consignment through the Bower. One of them is @christine.smith.96 We have a couple of her beautiful up-cycled pieces on the shop floor at the moment:... 1. Coffee Table Combo of found items and purchases from the Bower (vintage leg booties in their original packaging!). Timber has been sanded back and stained with Tung oil to enhance the grain of the panels. 2. Side Table Sourced second hand, stripped to expose the raw wood, second-hand copper handles added (from the Bower again!). Please DM us or call us in-store if you are interested in learning more about these items. Smith likes to work with mid-century and retro furniture and is a bit of an expert at making things work for small living spaces. She is motivated by her desire to keep usable items out of landfill. We rkn she is pretty clever. #consignmentcorner #upcycle #upcycledfurniture #salvage #reclaimed #midcenturyfurniture #restorations #reuse #savedfromlandfill

09.01.2022 Last reminder for Saturdays RepairWorks via Facebook Live between 11am and midday. Annette & Luke will take you through some upholstery basics - before you know it youll be salvaging, repurposing and up-cycling like a champion! Check out this beauty by Annette: a curb-side rescue piece, repurposed and brought to life as a storage ottoman. Friday inspo for you.... #choosereused #salvage #reuse #recycle #upcycle #sustainableliving #wheresecondhandcomesfirst #creativedesign by Annette

09.01.2022 Jyotsna Bakre will be selling her beautiful wares at The Christmas Edition of our Parra Pickers Trash & Treasure market on Sat Dec 5 between 4-9pm. She uses paper quilling techniques to craft Christmas ornaments and cards, photo frames and decorative tea light candle holders using discarded CDs. Beautiful and simple, handmade and waste-free. Sustainable Christmas gift giving FTW! Parra Pickers is on Sat December 5 at Bower Reuse & Repair Centre, Parramatta. For workshop an...d market info visit our website: https://bit.ly/3lV9dZp cc @art_by_jyotsna #parrapickersnightmarket #parramatta #liveableparramatta #sustainablechristmas #handmade #handmadewithlove #craftychristmas #handmadegifts #papercrafts #quilling #reuse

08.01.2022 Denim. Double Denim. Just more denim. Kate & Ariane are going to share tips and answer your questions about denim repair and repurposing in this weeks RepairWorks session via Facebook Live (Sat September 12 between 11am and midday). Prep your questions and tune in! If youre not able to join us between 11 and midday you can always book in for one of our 15 minute online private repair consultations where you can enjoy Kate & Arianes undivided attention! Booking info at: h...ttps://bit.ly/30UIDYa Can you rock it like Britney & JT? #denim #doubledenim #repairdontreplace #Repair #repurpose #reuse #wheresecondhandcomesfirst #vintagestyle

08.01.2022 Upholstery! We have an Introductory Upholstery course coming up in Parramatta on Sat Nov 28; a three-hour workshop during which you’ll learn the basics for upholstering a flat surface. The session includes advice on suitable fabrics to work with, measuring and cutting foam and padding and what timbers to use for creating the base and then you can make beauties like this one (swipe!) crafted by one of our workshop facilitators Annette Mayne. Clever woman. Course info about ...our Introductory Upholstery Course and the Furniture Repair & Painting courses that we’re offering at our Parramatta premises is available via this link: https://bit.ly/36KJ7TW Significant discounts for Parramatta locals with thanks to City of Parramatta. @renewedbyannette #renew #upholstery #upholsteryfabric #reuse #refurbishedfurniture #refurbish #repurpose #furniturerepair #repair

08.01.2022 We’re on the hunt for more workshop facilitators and repairers. If you have knowledge of electronics, furniture, bicycle or clothing repairs we want to hear from you. Expertise not required, just enthusiasm and a degree of knowledge coupled with a desire to share.... If this sounds like you please visit our website (https://bit.ly/38Bj42G) or email [email protected] Pictured: Some of our current flock of facilitators come join them! #reuse #repair #community #facilitators #facilitator #community #instructors #teachersofinstagram #educateyourself #electricalrepairs #furniturerepair #bicyclerepair #bikesbikesbikes #mendit #clothingrepair #mendyourclothes

07.01.2022 Parra Peeps! Were doing some spring cleaning at our Parramatta store and selling bundles and even giving away some selected books and homewares tomorrow. If youre around, wed love to see you. Come and say hello, grab some books for yourself, or even better - get a whole heap and plant them in your communal street library! ... Thats Shop 1, 10 Hunter St (750m away from Parramatta Train Station), between 11am 3pm. See you there. ParraParents - Parramatta District Parents City of Parramatta Parramatta Womens Shed #sustainableparramatta #secondhandcomesfirst #Sustainability #readingislife #homeware

06.01.2022 Mates - just a quick one to remind you that we have our Facebook LIVE session on Bike Repairs tomorrow between 11am-midday with Stu & Jo. Bike safety and maintenance, bike legend tips, and the answers to your questions. If you cant tune in, book into one of our Online Private Repair consultations later in the day: https://bit.ly/30UIDYa ... Share w/ your peloton! Go Richie Porte! #onyourbike #getonyourbike #getonyourbikesandride #gorichie #tourdefrance2020 #bikesbikesbikes #bikerepair #fixit

06.01.2022 Are you feeling culturally deprived of your usual activities & events? Keep an eye out on some of the great events Inner West Council has coming up. https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/whats-on#/

06.01.2022 Bower GM Guido Verbist has written a piece on the importance of fostering the Right To Repair culture within Australia. A Right to Repair for Australians will help our waste crisis and assist with the longer-term transition to a circular economy. Read about it! http://ow.ly/LShK50BeiIn... Image by Jessica Lea Dunn. Used courtesy of Jesse Stein & Alexander Crosby at the Repair Design Project, UTS, Sydney. #righttorepair #repair #menditgood #AUrighttorepair #reuse #readaboutit #midnightoil

05.01.2022 Workshop Update There are a couple of places left in this weekend’s Introductory Upholstery Course at Parramatta. In just 3 hours you will learn basic techniques that will allow you to upholster a flat surface by creating your own milk-crate upholstered seat base. This workshop includes choosing appropriate fabric, measuring and cutting foam and padding and what timbers to use for creating the base, and will set you on your way for experimenting with more upholstery techniqu...es in future! Generous discounts apply for Parramatta residents with thanks to @cityofparramatta. You’ll never look at a milk crate in the same way again. We’re also offering an online Clothing Repair Cafe via Zoom this weekend. Join our sewist Kate and let her talk you through the basic skills you need to repair clothes you’d like to continue wearing: change elastic, fix hems, repair a dodgy zip and sew on. See what we did there? Register for our Online Repair Cafes here: https://bit.ly/2TbPrvU #repair #reuse #mend #diyproject #diyprojects #diyhomedecor #sewistsofinstagram #sewist #sewists #workshops #repaircafes #repaircafe #onlinerepaircafe #upskill #upskilling #upskillyourself #bowerpower #staplegun

04.01.2022 Dont forget RepairWorks via Facebook LIVE - tomorrow between 11am-midday.

03.01.2022 Congratulations to Planet Ark on the launch of their Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub); a resource to inform and inspire all of us as we transition to a circular economy. The hub contains case studies, guides for business and government and is a platform for sharing information and other valuable resources. Fingers crossed for the future of this new endeavour; here’s to all of us working towards facilitating this big change.... #ACEhub #circulareconomy #circularaustralia #reuse #repair #CloseTheLoop #narrowtheloop #sustainability https://acehub.org.au

03.01.2022 Happy Friday bowerbirds!! Enjoy this hand-picked selection of amazing stuff we have to offer right now. Have a great weekend everyone - tune in on Fb live tomorrow at 11am with Jo and Stu for bike madness. Chest of drawers on castors $95 Whimsical hutch $60 Danish 7 speed $300 Vintage vanity $280... Balinese carved chest $250 Camping bed, double $100 @ THE BOWER Reuse & Repair Centre See more

03.01.2022 Its no secret that were passionate advocates for a circular economy. The principles of reuse underpin all that we do at the Bower. But the reality is that what we do is a drop in the ocean. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, out of the UK, is an organisation that has put the circular economy on the agenda of decision-makers from multiple sectors across the globe. Their latest report Financing the Circular Economy is available now: https://bit.ly/32rDaZx. It is the follow up ...to 2019s How The Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change and highlights that now is the time for finance to invest in industrial and economic transformation and help scale the circular economy. In Australia it feels like we still have quite a way to go before we catch up to the likes of the UK, but were excited that there are ambitious local organisations working towards achieving a Circular Economy in Australia and applaud those who are taking steps in the right direction. Who do you know that is working to achieve a circular economy in Australia? We want to know about all endeavours great and small. Let us know. Planet Ark Soft Landing TerraCycle Australia Garage Sale Trail SMART Centre UNSW Closed Loop Inner West Council City of Greater Bendigo #rethinkprogress #smartdesign #reduce #reuse #naturalcycle #services #servicemodel #systemredesign #fightwaste #transitiontocircular #valueonwaste Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

02.01.2022 Its that time again... After a warm day and the smell of jasmine in the air hinting at the start of Spring, let us seduce you with the furniture and objet de art currently on offer at Bower. Red leather recliner - $200 Rotary phone $35 Tea set $12... Vintage drawers $25 Carnival picture $10 Australia plate $10 Fedora $2 Glazed vase $40 Wine racks $5 each Vintage mini pantry $30 See more

02.01.2022 Were stoked to be a finalist in this years Community Building Partnership grants program alongside a long list of worthy community organisations. These grants are assessed on application merit and the level of community support shown. If you have a moment please show your support for the Bower; we have applied for funding to carry out some much needed repairs to the Bower truck to ensure the safety and well-being of our drivers and their offsiders. www.johaylen.com/cbp2020 Jo Haylen #safetyfirst #wheresecondhandcomesfirst #repairdontreplace

02.01.2022 Free All Ages Workshop at Parra Pickers - MYO Decorations Using Traditional String Making Practice We’re feeling really fortunate to have educator, maker and bushcraft practitioner Dave ‘Harry’ Harrington (aka Stone & Bones) leading workshops at Parra Pickers on December 5. Dave will lead workshop participants through some traditional weaving practices to create Christmas decorations using reclaimed materials - including shiny bits & bobs from The Bower. Embrace the art of D...IY this Christmas; make your own Christmas decorations incorporating traditional aboriginal weaving techniques. Beautiful! Info & Bookings here: https://events.humanitix.com/parra-pickers-all-ages-craft-y# #sustainablechristmas #liveableparramatta #parramatta #parrapickers #reuse #savedfromlandfill #craft #handicraft #craftychristmas #makeityourself #myo #handmade #parraparents #parramums #familytime #familycraft #parradads

01.01.2022 10 - 4 Rubber Ducky! Were looking for a part time truck driver for a customer facing role collecting donated items and delivering for our Collection & Rehoming department. If youve got the skills wed like to hear from you. https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/membe/bower/truck-driver-2/

01.01.2022 Happy Friday friends! Its been another super busy week here, and the rain didnt stop us either! Please come and visit us on the weekend, weve got so many amazing things on sale at the moment! Sideboard $350 Lamp $ 35 Skinny drawer $60 Mid century style shelf $150... Blanket box/seat $60 Hallway stand $150 Hammered light $25 Road box $80 Wooden toys $35ea, $60 for both Light $25 Glazed vase $40 See more

01.01.2022 Did you catch the splendour of Stu in his fluro jumpsuit last weekend on RepairWorks via Facebook LIVE? Besides the sartorial excellence there were many handy tips shared by Stu and Jo about bike customisation and safety. This Saturday between 11am and midday Andre & Griffin will be presenting to you from the Bowers Banga workshop, where they will be providing tips on household electrical maintenance & repair to keep your appliances and devices working better for longer. You... can submit questions to Andre & Griffin during the LIVE session. If you have a particularly detailed question or are unable to make the live session, book into one of our 1-on-1 sessions with these electrical legends between 1-3pm: http://ow.ly/vcRA50B367C #righttorepair #menditgood #wheresecondhandcomesfirst #sustainability #sustainablelife #electricallife