Second chance
The Repair Shop Australia‘ s Dean Ipaviz and his team are looking to bring a touch of TLC to our treasures, writes Siobhan Duck
GETTING toy trains back on track after decades languishing in a dusty box, finding the key to making an old clock chime for the first time in years, and having just the right pearls of wisdom to be able to restore heirloom jewellery – the six craftspeople working at The Repair Shop Australia know the tricks of the trade to bring even the most dilapidated and weather-beaten family treasures back to life.
While the group’s unique skills are undoubtedly a sight to behold, it’s the stories behind the rundown pieces that are the heart and soul of this program, says host Dean Ipaviz.
A builder by trade with a passion for restoration, Ipaviz is a long-time admirer of the original UK series The Repair Shop and says he jumped at the chance to front the new Aussie version.
“I’ve always had a real interest in renovation from a building perspective; I’ve loved the component of being able to renovate an old building and marry the old and the new,” he explains. “I think that really ties into restoration. So, when this opportunity came up, particularly as a fan of the show, my hand instantly went up.”
Ipaviz believes there has never been a better time for a series like this to hit our screens because the blend of humour, heart and hope is just what Australians need after Covid lockdowns and a string of devastating natural disasters.
“I’ve been involved firsthand with the [recent] flood recovery and I’ve been picking my way through people’s houses, saying to them, ‘Hey, what are we doing with this dresser?’ or ‘ What are we doing with these pictures and frames?’” he explains.
Showing people the possibilities for loved, older possessions means that participants and viewers at home may “be able to lean on the show and see that not all their items are going to be lost, if they do want to restore them”, Ipaviz offers.
After all, he can relate. “I’m feeling incredibly burnt out after the past couple of years of the pandemic and then the disasters we’ve experienced [in northern NSW] with the floods,” he concedes. “Everything feels pretty heavy at the moment. I think being able to see a show like this, which isn’t contrived – it’s genuine, it’s feel-good TV, we have a good laugh – I think people will see the hope in that.”
The Repair Shop Australia’s resident electrician Paul Lowe never tires of seeing people’s faces light up when he restores something. “It sounds clichéd, but it’s good payment,” he says.
“In some cases, there’s a lot of guilt felt by people about family heirlooms that they had failed on their watch, so to speak.
They want to see these things that have been handed down
[to them] revived, but they don’t have the knowledge to do it, only the passion and desire to get them fixed.”
The work can be painstaking and complicated, and while the series spotlights the remarkable talents of the repairers, Lowe admits that “you can’t show me every nut and bolt or every sand and polish”. Even so, throughout filming, Ipaviz says he has consistently marvelled at what Lowe and the other repairers were able to fix, labelling them “miracle workers”.
“Some of the items we get handed, the average punter would look at them and say, ‘ These are irreparable,’” Ipaviz admits. “Then the guys get in there and work their magic to bring it back to life, and it’s so touching to see. It really brings a sparkle back to people’s lives, and I think there’s genuine hope in that for everyone watching.”
THE REPAIR SHOP AUSTRALIA TUESDAY, 8PM, FOXTEL AND STREAMING ON DEMAND