By Peter Douglas
Plastic Bag Free Dandenong Ranges is placing its faith in homemade, re-usable Boomerang Bags to inspire the community to think green.
More than 500 bags have been hand-sewn and placed throughout various hills shops.
Customers are encouraged to borrow them, before returning them upon their next visit.
Upwey IGA has been one of the major supporters of the initiative and hosted the Boomerang Bag launch on Saturday 27 May.
Stalls, sausages and songs were plentiful at the launch, with a ‘flashmob choir’ appearing in the aisles, along with Peggy the Platypus.
Together, they sang ‘Carry Better Bags’, a song written by local musician Cath Russell.
The choir comprised children and their families from Tecoma, St Thomas More, Upwey, Upwey South and The Patch primary schools.
Members of the Mountain Singers choir also participated.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Noel Cliff, and Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region, Samantha Dunn, also attended.
Also, there was the launch of Swap the Straw Dandenong Ranges, which aims to recruit every cafe and restaurant in the hills to stop using disposable straws and replace them with steel or glass straws.
Jen Ellison, from Plastic Bag Free Dandenong Ranges, hoped the community would support the Boomerang Bag initiative.
“The idea is to give people an alternative to plastic bags,” she said.
“Use our Boomerang Bags and then return them to any of the participating stores, ready for the next customer.”
Presently, there are numerous participants, including Upwey IGA, Selby General Store, Kallista General Store, Belgrave Book Barn, Hillztribes, Sushi Express and Unwrapped Pantry in Belgrave Heights.
Ms Ellison said much work had gone into creating the bags.
“Our sewing volunteers have made over 500 beautiful bags, but we are always accepting more,” she said.
“So, if you have a re-usable bag you’d like to donate, please drop it off at any of our Boomerang Bag locations.”
More details available on the groups’ Facebook pages.
