You’re never too young to learn about sustainability and be bitten by the op shopping bug!
This was proven on Monday, 18 August, when Manager of Lutheran Care’s Elcies Thrift Store in Tanunda, Halia Maynard, visited Redeemer Lutheran School, Nuriootpa, to share her passion for sustainable fashion and give insights into how our shopping and waste management practices impact our environment.
Halia was invited to the school by teacher Mikhaela Zanlorenzi, who works in the school’s Innovations Village, and is the daughter-in-law of one of the volunteers at Elcies.
Halia’s presentation linked with the students’ research into the landfill crisis—where waste is filling up landfills, creating pollution and greenhouse gases—and sparked their interest in how our second-hand stores help turn trash into treasure.
The students explored hands-on examples of how the Elcies team creatively reuses items that might otherwise end up in landfill. Chipped crockery becomes plant pots or craft materials, unsellable clothing is transformed into tote bags, aprons, or cleaning rags, and ‘B Grade’ blankets and soft toys find new life at local vet clinics and animal shelters.
“A big shock for them was feeling the difference of quality between the cheaper-made Shein/Temu fabric clothing versus Australian made good quality clothing,” says Halia, who brought in a Veronika Maine garment so the students could experience the difference.
They also discussed how investing in a good quality, higher-priced jacket, also works out cheaper in the long run per wear, than purchasing a substandard product.
Kerry, one of the volunteers from Elcies Tanunda, also went along and spoke to the students about what she enjoys about her volunteer role.
“The kids were all so nicely spoken and well mannered and had a heap of questions ready to go,” Halia shares.
The students will present their research later in the term.
Elcies Thrift Stores are boutique-style second-hand shops, offering high-quality preloved goods and well-known brands. Launched by Lutheran Care, they provide a dignified shopping experience—every bit as good as mainstream retail—for people on tighter budgets as well as those who love discovering thrifted treasures. By disrupting fast fashion and giving preloved items a second life, Elcies helps reduce landfill waste while raising vital funds for Lutheran Care’s Emergency Relief program.
Elcies Thrift Stores are located at:
- Shop 4 / 46 Murray Street, Tanunda
- 43-45 The Parade, Norwood
- 231 Military Road, Semaphore.
To enquire about getting a speaker from Lutheran Care or Elcies Thrift Stores at your organisation, school or church, please contact communications@lutherancare.org.au