Boomerangs circulate the community
A Taupo¯ woman’s good deeds has circled back around and landed in her lap in the form of a gift basket.
Sarah Delany is this month’s Harcourts Taupo¯ Good Sort - an initiative supported by Harcourts, The Merchant and Taupo¯ Times. She wins a gift basket from The Merchant.
Delany is passionate about getting rid of plastic bags so she decided to bring the Australian concept of reusable bags - Boomerang Bags - to Taupo¯ .
Now, volunteers from all walks of life gather together or work away at home to make the reuseable Boomerang Bags, using recycled materials as an alternative to plastic bags.
She said making the bags was also proving to be a good way to start conversations, make friends, up-cycle materials and work towards shifting society’s way of thinking about plastic bags.
Delany said plastic bags were damaging the environment and the initiative helped people make the transition to reusable bags by giving them out to the community.
Some local retailers have also committed to stopping the use of plastic bags, like Replete Cafe, Kefi, Raw Balance, Pateke video shop, Taupo¯ Toy Library and most recently the Taupo¯ Market.
They are now using Boomerang Bags for their customers.
Delany said there was now more than 1000 Boomerang Bags in circulation in Taupo¯ and the goal is to get at least one bag into every household.
Something she said is is now looking like an achievable goal.
There is about 40-60 people actively sewing to help make the reusable bags.
Mela Herbert is one of those. She said it would not be possible without their main sponsors Fonterra and Creative Arts Taupo¯, along with donations of fabric and time from the community.
She said everyone making Boomerang Bags are passionate about the cause and the reductions of plastic that is drowning out country.
‘‘It has taken a while to get things started but is is growing nicely,’’ she said.
The bag designs are simple, easy to make and sturdy. No two bags are the same.
Some come with pockets and some come with zips and their are bags suitable for men and women.
Mayor David Trewavas said this is a timely proposal and is an excellent idea.