At the recent AGM of the Lorne Community Hospital, the President of the Lorne Community Op Shop, Stella O’Donnell, delivered a report on the operations of the Op Shop over the period 1018/19. Here is the summary of Stella’s report:
“How is health defined? Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing. It is the absence of disease and also the ability to recover and bounce back from illness and other problems.
Over 2018/19 the Lorne Op Shop has continued to contribute effectively to the health and wellbeing of the Lorne and wider community as part of the Barwon region.
The Lorne Op Shop is a multi-faceted business with a diverse membership including young and older members of the Lorne and wider community and men and women from a variety of backgrounds with wide ranging knowledge, skills and experience. Not all of our 75 members work in the shop but contribute in other ways to our success as a business and social enterprise.
Our start came from the original Members of our Association all of whom have now sadly passed away. Their spirit continues to be shown in our activities for and with the communities we serve. The Lorne Op Shop is an institution that continues to grow and change to meet the challenges of our diverse community.
The scope of our support is somewhat restricted to the geographical areas of 3 towns; Lorne, Aireys Inlet, Deans Marsh and 3 hamlets; Separation Creek, Wye River, Kennett River. Through our Member and Association networks we work with others to support physical, mental and emotional health across all age groups in these catchment areas
We are responsive to identified community problems and needs and offer wide ranging support to individuals and organisations making a real difference where we live, work and play.
82% donations go to the hospital services. We have contributed over 1 million dollars to the Lorne Community Hospital over the last 5 years. In the last financial year, donations to the Lorne Community Hospital exceeded $230,000, funding a wide range of initiatives including:
- $50,000 to the Annual Appeal directed to the gym extension
- Aged Care Garden refurbishment $97,500 – $73,050 landscaping, $6000 furniture
- Hospital and Aged Care Equipment – beds, monitors, mattresses, balcony furniture
- Aged Care Treats including outings, personal care and food / drink treats
- Event support – health event lunches, including school health and workshops
The Op Shop also contributed funds in excess of $55,000 to the following community initiatives:
- Parkrun -established by Carly Endicott and others to encourage physical activity of people of all ages is a great success. With the support of other key Lorne businesses, the additional tourism potential of Parkrun as an international event, will continue to be realised.
- The Red Frogs help keep Schoolies and the wider Lorne Community safer each year. The Red Frogs provide us with a detailed breakdown of their activities and how they spend our contribution towards their running costs.
- The Lorne Festival of Performing Arts is a wonderful opportunity to add colour and interest to everyday life in Lorne. The Op Shop was proud to support this year’s festival and we are grateful to organisers for arranging a musical performance at the Lorne Community Hospital aged care facility – the performer apparently was so moved by the reactions of residents that he left the event in tears!
- Lorne Country Club desperately needed to upgrade their toilet facilities to be compliant with legislation and the needs of their members and visitors to their facility. Our contribution has assisted with the ongoing financial viability of this volunteer run facility and our contribution of a defibrillator located at one of the holes on the course may yet save a life.
- The Lorne Football and Netball Club provide great opportunities for our young people to actively build connections with their community and maintain and improve health. The replacement of the First Aid trailer via our donation helps this club to maintain the health of participants at their home base and also when travelling further afield to matches.
- The Geelong mums provide assistance to families fostering children and also to new mothers struggling financially. We put aside baby clothing plus other items to assist in their great work. We also maintain a good range of stock in our shop to meet local and visitor needs.
- The Lorne P-12 school provides quality education for our young people. We acknowledge the efforts of students with an annual VCAL award plus other assistance as required for them to complete their community projects.
- Sometimes we have excess stock and so we have engaged the services of Southern Textiles to distribute this stock to people and places where is it more urgently needed.
Unfortunately, rubbish disposal at the Lorne Transfer Station / Recycling centre costs us approximately $800 per month, or nearly $10,000 per year, of money raised at the Op Shop. This money could be better used on a local community project. So, we ask our generous donors to consider when donating goods whether or not they are fit for purpose.
We recognise that we work as part of a team not just in the shop, but in our community. Working together with other groups and associations, we all achieve so much more! We gratefully acknowledge the following:
- The role of the Lorne Community Hospital Team in providing quality health services to Lorne and its surrounding communities
- Our wonderful donors
- Our valued customers
- The tireless volunteer Members of The Lorne Op Shop who collectively contribute in excess of 6,500 hours as volunteers in the course of a year
- The support we receive from the Lorne Men’s Shed especially with maintenance of our Shop premises
- Support we receive from Lorne business traders and others
In closing:
- The Lorne Community Op Shop looks forwards to continuing to work with the Lorne Community Hospital and Great Ocean Road Health.
- Please continue to donate items for us to sell in our shop so that we can continue to support our community.
- Have a happy safe Festive Season.
Stella O’Donnell
President
Lorne Community Op Shop
