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Building a resourceful, creative, caring community
BHRR is a community-driven initiative. We are dedicated to promoting sustainability by encouraging the reuse and repurposing of pre-loved items. We connect people looking to rehome their surplus with others who can give them a new life. It's free, practical and sustainable. By building local connections and facilitating sharing, we aim to create a more resourceful, creative, and caring community.
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Cath and Jennie
Co-Founders
As kids, we spent countless hours delighting in the treasures to be found in hard rubbish piles. Not much has changed!
But now we’re also parents.
That childhood love of “treasure hunting” has grown into something bigger - a deep concern for sustainable living and what kind of world we’re leaving for our kids. It can feel overwhelming, but we both realised we can all make a difference - starting at the grassroots of a hard rubbish pile on our local nature strips.
The “Aha” moment
As we chatted, we realised that while many good, usable things end up on hard rubbish piles, these are often put out reluctantly. Life gets busy. Challenges arise and there aren't always easy ways to pass on pre-loved items. What was missing was a way to connect the people with surplus items to the people who needed them. It would also help keep usable items out of landfill.
Connecting People, Reducing Waste
Surely, we thought, there must be a better way to create this connection, in true “circular economy” style. Local residents have loads of “stuff” and there’s a lot of need around us. That’s how BHRR came to life - a Facebook community built on respect, resourcefulness and resilience, helping useable, preloved items find new homes one conversation at a time.
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Key Moments
Milestones that have shaped our rehoming community.
2022
Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome founded
Membership reaches 1,000
▸BHRR develops its first links to local community organisations, as we deliver two vans loads of household goods rescued from local hard rubbish piles to Rotary North Balwyn for their refugee support program.
Local Federal MP Dr Monique Ryan refers to BHRR's work in Parliament House's Federation Chamber.
▸BHRR develops links with PALM Scheme Community Connections program
▸BHRR supplies clothes, sports equipment and luggage from hard rubbish to support seasonal workers.
BHRR develops its first links to Boroondara Council
2023
First fundraiser
▸Selling items entirely sourced from local hard rubbish piles.
Co-founders Cath and Jennie speak at a local business for International Women’s Day
Membership reaches 5,000. Start collaboration with Kew East Recycling Community
Co-founders Cath and Jennie’s first radio gig
▸We chat about BHRR with 3AW’s Denis Walters and his audience. Other media appearances that year include ABC Everyday Home and local digital newspaper Eastsider News.
Inaugural Spring Community Market
▸BHRR sells items rescued from local hard rubbish piles, and invites participation from Rehomie creatives.
BHRR participates in Boroondara Council’s inaugural Repair and Reuse Day
▸We offer free resources rescued from local hard rubbish piles to the local community for free, and and share what BHRR does.
2024
Membership reaches 10,000
BHRR wins the 2024 Boroondara Volunteer Program Innovation Award
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BHRR participates in Swinburne University's International Student Expo
▸We offer free resources rescued from local hard rubbish piles to international students, and chat about what BHRR does and how it can help them.
BHRR is involved in Boroondara Council’s Threads Exchange event
BHRR’s Spring Community Market returns
We continue sharing BHRR's story through local media channels
▸This includes interviews on 3AW and ABC 774, as well as features in the Burwood Bulletin and Eastsider News.
BHRR continues participating in Boroondara Council events. Cath and Jennie meet ABC's B1 and B2!
▸We join again in Boroondara Council’s Repair and Reuse Day and are invited to participate in the ABC’s Click and Connect market.
2025
We continue engaging at local events.
▸BHRR returns for Swinburne University’s International Student Expo and participates for the first time in Boroondara's Sustainability Festival.
BHRR at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
▸BHRR provides resources to the ABC's Gardening Australia to run children's activities at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. From bunting and tablecloths to plants and materials for insect hotels and succulent gardens, BHRR is integral to a successful kids' event.
We're now a regular part of Swinburne University's International Student Expo
BHRR gets a ‘behind the scenes” visit to Visy’s recycling facilities
Community connections between Boroondara Council, Swinburne University and BHRR
▸Boroondara Council offers BHRR the opportunity to develop a website in collaboration with Swinburne University IT Diploma Students.
BHRR gets a “behind the scenes” visit to the Boroondara Waste and Recycling Centre
BHRR’s Spring Community Market returns bigger and better
▸BHRR, with the support of Boroondara Council, runs its third Spring Community Market in the Parkview Room and the lovely parkland outside the Camberwell Library.
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Community Impact
BHRR’s impact is significant, from empowering individuals and supporting the work of community groups and other organisations. Here’s how BHRR is making a difference
At its heart, BHRR runs on kindness and respect. It gives people the chance to: - connect with each other and to organisations in the broader community. - find shared purpose - experience support during significant life transitions - feel empowered to make a difference - share skills and inspiration
Rescue. Rehome. Recirculate. Through BHRR, tonnes of usable household items stay in circulation and out of hard rubbish (and ultimately, landfill). Items are: - rescued from hard rubbish piles and recirculated into the community - shared, before they ever reach hard rubbish - donated to community organisations - used to support local events and initiatives
Accessible. Affordable. Achievable. Because all items are free on BHRR, this helps to: - give people access to things they need but perhaps can’t afford - provide a simple and practical way to pass on surplus items - nurture a network of like-minded people - support local circular action
Shift attitudes. Support change. Show what’s possible. Through BHRR, people learn to: - understand the challenges of rehoming - view their surplus as a resource, not as waste - explore better ways to share preloved items - rethink, reuse and repurpose preloved items