Community
14 July, 2023
Volunteers the heart of cafe
RUTH Flowers has fixed, mended and brought back to life over a hundred pieces of jewellery at the Port Fairy Repair Cafe.
She has been making and fixing jewellery for 20 years, and has been with the repair cafe from its instigation back in February 2020.
Like some many of the dedicated volunteers who run the café, Ruth gets great enjoyment from helping others in her community. It all started when a friend who made her own jewellery, asked Ruth to join her at a jewellery making class.
Ruth went with her, absolutely loved it, and has not looked back. “I love jewellery. I love wearing it and I love what it can do; it can dress up an outfit or piece of clothing, it can make you feel unique, it can help you create your own style and make you feel amazing,” Ruth said.
“It can also hold special memories or help you remember a place or person.” Ruth’s talent to create – and recreate – jewellery is nothing short of admirable. “There is something amazing about hearing the story behind a piece of jewellery and giving it another life.”
Ruth has fixed Mikimoto pearls, vintage items, heirloom pieces and crystal necklaces; some stuck in the back of a drawer from the 1930s and 1940s. She has also repaired meditation beads that had been blessed by the Delai Lama.
One visitor to the Port Fairy Repair Café brought a piece of jewellery that had been given to her by her daughter.
Her daughter had since died, and it was very special for Ruth to be able to fix the very precious piece.
This is what keeps all the volunteer fixers at the café coming back - the community connection, keeping items out of landfill, and making a difference.
The July repair café will be open this Saturday from 10am-12noon at the Port Fairy Community House. While bookings are recommended via the group’s Facebook page, walk-ins are still most welcome.
