How To
Live simply
How does living simply help?
Living simply addresses over-consumption, waste, pollution, climate change and pressures on resources. If we only had one aim, this could be it.
For some inspiration and practical ideas, see:
RetroSuburbia – The Downshifter’s Guide to a Resilient Future
Repairing things that have broken is one way to live more simply. See Environment Victoria – Reuse and Repair for why repairing things matters, and options for when something breaks.
Op Shopping
Op shopping is another way to live more simply, re-using items instead of buying new.
Use our interactive map to find an Anglican Op Shop near you. Use the filter to narrow the list.
Remember, you can shop at any time on the Gippsland Op Shop website
Happy shopping!
Do you have reusable goods to donate? Please get in touch with the store to find out the best time and place to drop off.
Repair Café
One option is to take the item to a Repair Café.
Repair Cafés are run by volunteers. There are over 2,500 worldwide!
Learn more about Repair Cafés, including some in Gippsland:
Wonthaggi: Fix It Café
Morwell: Latrobe Valley Repair Café
Let us know if you find others.
You might even like to start one yourself! Learn how to start a Repair Café.
Go Local
What difference can a local economy make?
A localised economy creates resilience – e.g. to supply chain disruptions due to conflicts, fire, floods, storms, droughts, fuel shortages or power outages. In a local economy, most food is grown locally and most basic goods like clothes are manufactured locally. Going local also reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transport. One amazing example of localisation of food at scale is the Liège Food Belt in Belgium, where the city has 30 food co-ops offering local, sustainable and organic food.
This model has spread to six other cities in Belgium: https://eurocities.eu/stories/lieges-food-belt-a-citizen-led-food-revolution
Gippsland local food
Thomson River Farms at Heyfield: https://themiddleofeverywhere.com.au/en/profiles/thomson-river-farms (See also their Facebook page)
Grow Lightly in South Gippsland: https://www.growlightly.com.au/
Find Farmers’ markets: https://www.visitgippsland.com.au/do-and-see/shopping/markets
Prepare
What do we need to prepare for, and how?
– Natural disasters – Supply chain disruptions
In June 2026 a group from Friends of the Earth came to the Cathedral to guide, challenge and encourage Bishop in Council and others to think proactively about adapting to the reality of climate change and the climatic disasters the changes are causing. They later sent us a written report on the workshop, which you can find here:
Imagine
How can imagining a positive future help?
See what Rob Hopkins has to say about the power of imagination for creating a better future, or listen to his podcast ‘From What If to What Next’: https://www.robhopkins.net/
Advocate
How can we advocate for creation?
Common Grace – Creation and Climate Justice: https://www.commongrace.org.au/climate_change
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change: https://www.arrcc.org.au/advocate