SHE’S up to bag number 374 and Sharr Ellson, 38, of Thornlands has only just begun.
Ms Ellson and a volunteer team of about 15 meet every second Thursday and on Saturdays once a month at the Cleveland Scout group to make boomerang bags, a community program that helps the bag makers as much as those using them.
Her purpose is to reduce landfill by using fabric remnants, old clothes, curtains and bedsheets that might otherwise be dumped.
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Instead this fabric is used to create tote sized shopping bags.
The bags are available at Wray’s Organics at Cleveland and Go Vita at Capalaba and discussions are underway to distribute them at Indigiscapes at Capalaba.
“Everything is used,” Ms Ellson said.
“We use all the scraps, even if we make tags or little jug milk covers.”
Ms Ellson said she started the project because she needed “somewhere to direct her energy”.
“The project gives people who want to feel a part of the community an outlet,” she said.
“People might be put off when they hear we want people who can sew, but we also need people who can cut, can iron and can screen print.”
Part of her reward is the appreciation she receives from the users of the bags.
“It’s very timely with the new bag laws coming into effect in July,” she said.
“The people using the bags are custodians of these bags for the community, so to speak.”
The group has recently been given an $800 grant through division three councillor Paul Golle.
Ms Ellson said the money would be spent on cutting equipment, a screen printer and potentially a sewing machine.
The group was also nominated for an Australia Day award.
“Sharr is passionate about her community and wants to bring together people who are maybe sitting at home isolated and alone by conducting local projects in the Redlands,” Mr Golle said.
“Her amazing boomerang bags help reduce land fill and are mostly available for free. Used as everyday shopping or beach bags they will help in the transition process of banning plastic bags in Queensland shopping centres.”
Anyone wanting to be involved in the project can phone 0423 503 983.
