LIKE Phoenix rising from the ashes, so, too, is one of Hastings’ favourite op shops: Holy Trinity Church Op Shop, which is undertaking a rebuilding project.
The vision for the new building is for a larger, purpose-built facility that encourages the Mornington Peninsula community in their efforts to recycle and re-purpose unwanted household goods. It aims to be an open, welcoming space for the community to meet, volunteer, browse, read and connect with others.
The rebuild follows the devastating fire of March last year that destroyed the building which had been an op shop since 1994. Since then, the shop has been run in a temporary portable building on the same site in Church Street, behind Coles.
In the three years before the fire, thanks to the generosity of community donors, the op shop was able to give more than $100,000 to community organisations. These included Western Port Community Centre, The Awakening Breakfast Club at Western Port Secondary College, Hastings Cancer Support Group, CFA brigades at Hastings, Somers, Tyabb, Crib Point and Bittern, Good Shepherd, Western Port Coast Guard and Hastings Police Register.
Others supported are Christmas Day Community Lunch fund, Habitat For Humanity, The Bays Nursing Home, Mornington Peninsula Hospice, Hastings Men’s Shed, Abacus Early Learning, Shed 11 Community Shed, Fusion, Mission To Seafarers and the Chaplaincy at Crib Point and Somerville Rise primary schools.
The op shop also supported Hastings, Wallaroo, Crib Point, Bittern, Tyabb, Tyabb Railway, and Somers primary schools, as well as Western Port Secondary College.
Hastings couple Geoff and Beryl Stockton have a strong connection to the old building having been married there in 1958, as well as Geoff’s great-great grandfather being involved in the construction of the original building in 1884.
“While it was sad to see the old building burnt down, we’re looking forward to seeing what can be built up again and knowing that our whole community benefits from the work of the op shop,” Mr Stockton said.
In looking for funding for rebuilding, the op shop has registered with the state government’s Pick-My-Project scheme which invites people to vote for projects in their community in order to receive a funding grant.
Hastings and peninsula residents who would like to support the rebuilding are encouraged to register and vote at pickmyproject.vic.gov.au
First published in the Western Port News – 4 September 2018
