Cairns’ best low-cost high-value handmade and preloved Christmas gifts everyone will love

Bake it, make it, grow it or get it second hand – there’s plenty of talented community groups who have the perfect Christmas gifts to help you stay on a sustainable budget.

WHEN it comes to ticking off your Christmas list, you can’t beat a homemade, baked, grown or specially chosen sustainable gift to put under the tree for those you love.

If you don’t have the time to whip up a Christmas cake, craft a toy, take some cuttings or source a retro goodie, then the next best thing is to support one of the many community

groups who have their festive season baking, handicrafts, gardening and recycling down pat.

QCWA home made goodies

Queensland Country Women’s Association Freshwater branch president Sue Toms said her members love this time of year.

“We have our Christmas stall at The Freshwater night markets on December 10 from 5pm to 10pm and will have our usual cooking and craft stand-bys,” she said.

“Our members are cooking lots of delicious things like traditional fruitcakes including small chocolate fruitcakes you can enjoy as puddings too.

“And we will have banana bread, scones, cakes, and slices as well as jams, chutneys and strawberry drizzles for your ice cream.”

Cairns Men’s Shed President Bob Lavington shows some of the beautifully crafted timber toys which will be available at their Christmas sale on December 11, 2021 at 186 Irene St, Mooroobool.

At Cairns Men’s Shed. president Bob Lavington said they will plenty of beautifully crafted timber toys their group is known for at a sale on December 11, 8am-noon, on 186 Irene St, Mooroobool.

“Our members have made quality timber toys and painted them,” he said.

“We have helicopters, planes, cars and trucks.

“Our sale will also include serving boards and platters and some refurbished items and a Santa sausage sizzle.”

For those looking for something retro to put under the tree, St Vincent de Paul Society FNQ executive director David Monaghan said their op-shops have a huge variety of affordable and unique preloved items.

At Vinnie's Grafton St, Cairns, store, staff member, Andrea Swinburn, shop co-ordinator Kim Ward and staff member Laura Cook show some of the sensational preloved items you can buy to make your Christmas gift giving affordable and sustainable. Picture: Alison Paterson

“We’re wishing the people of FNQ a ‘Merry Thriftmas’ and encouraging them to shop at their local Vinnies to find unique pre-loved-treasurers that they may not be able to find anywhere else,” he said.

“If people are into their craft or DIY, they can find all sorts of antiques, furniture and other items at Vinnies that they can pick up for cheap and then get creative with it “

Mr Monaghan said shopping at Vinnies will also help residents of FNQ doing it tough with the ongoing affordable housing shortage.

“We encourage consider donating their quality but unwanted goods,” he said.

He said people could donate directly to the Christmas Appeal to help others in need at vinnies.org.au/donate.

Sustainable gift tips

Use a tea-towels for wrapping

Bake biscuits or cakes

Take cuttings or give seeds

Check out community group stalls

Hit the op-shops

Originally published as Cairns’ best low-cost high-value handmade and preloved Christmas gifts everyone will love