Port Fairy Consolidated School challenged the community to a unique task on Sunday and organisers say the venture paid off.
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The school’s Winter Weekends Twilight Market was the first of the town’s events to ban single-use plastic items.
Straws, plastic plates, coffee cups and plastic bags were replaced with paper bags and BYO crockery that was cleaned at dish-washing stations throughout the school grounds.
Event organiser Charlotte Dumsney said hosting the environmentally-friendly event meant extra effort, but had greater rewards.
“It was a lot of work to organise,” she said. “We certainly didn’t take the easy route but thankfully we had a great team to help and it was a great example to the children.
“It was a brilliant event.”
Mrs Dumsney said this year’s market attracted record numbers.
“It all worked really well,” she said, “There were people everywhere, and plenty with their own cups. I think everyone was really supportive of what we were trying to achieve.”
The twilight event ran from 4pm to 7.30pm and included fire twirling displays, live music, dancing, hot food and hand-made products.
“The food all sold out this year,” Mrs Dumsney said. “We had children running plates to dish-washing stations and getting their hands in the water to help, they really got behind the idea.”
Mrs Dumsney said her and fellow-organiser Roseleen Langley were already having conversations about introducing the plastic ban at next year’s event.