A woman from Millicent, South Australia, has fulfilled her ambitious goal of creating 10,000 handmade fabric shopping bags just in time for a local sustainability-focused event.
Jody McKechnie, 62, began the project a year ago, aiming to distribute the bags for free. With support from volunteers and local students, she completed the final bag on Sunday, ahead of the upcoming Re-A-Range Festival starting Friday.
“It was exhausting getting them all done in time,” she said. “The feeling afterward was surreal — it was an intense but rewarding experience.”
The initiative, dubbed the 10,000 Bag Project, started when McKechnie noticed excessive plastic bag use while working in an op shop. She pitched the idea to Wattle Range Council, which organizes the festival, and began sewing bags from donated, unused fabric.
McKechnie emphasized that reusable plastic bags are not a long-term solution, as they don’t break down and contribute to microplastic pollution.
“The aim was to raise awareness about the impact of our plastic consumption and waste — a lot of people aren’t even aware of where their trash ends up,” she explained.
Each bag carries a sustainability message, and production ramped up as the deadline approached.
She operated from a vacant shop provided by Sukhi Dhaliwal, who co-owns the adjacent IGA supermarket. Dhaliwal saw potential in the project and offered the space to help bring attention to McKechnie’s efforts.
“When I saw a need and knew I could help, I wanted to be involved,” Dhaliwal said. “Helping the community is important to me.”
McKechnie also engaged local primary school students, teaching them to sew bags as part of the initiative. Kylie Peace, a teacher at Millicent North Primary School, said the students gained practical skills and learned about environmental issues and community service.
“They’ve learned to collaborate with unfamiliar peers and understand the importance of giving back,” she said.
McKechnie credited Millicent’s supportive spirit for the project’s success, saying the community was quick to embrace the idea.
“This town is generous — there’s a strong culture of volunteering and looking out for others,” she said.
Leftover fabric scraps didn’t go to waste either; they were repurposed to stuff dog beds by her friend, Mary Pappin.
The bags will take center stage at the Millicent Met Gala Wearable Art Fashion Parade on Friday, where they will be distributed during the event, which highlights fashion made from recycled materials.
