By Colin Watt
ON 16 August 2006 the Western Port Uniting Church’s Opportunity Shop, located in Disney Street Crib Point, was officially opened. Through the generosity of the Burley family, the parish was initially granted occupancy of the shop which was subsequently purchased by the Uniting Church.
Since its opening, the Op Shop, staffed by dedicated volunteers, has served local communities by trading five days a week. It has accepted donations of household goods, clothing and sundry items and gained a reputation across the peninsula for its friendly staff and the quality of its merchandise.
The winter months are generally the busiest with income amounting to approximately $4,000 per month. This has enabled the parish to make annual donations to church agencies and projects, schools, kindergartens, welfare bodies, sporting groups and emergency services. Some donations of goods are provided to welfare bodies to distribute to people in necessitous circumstances.
The Crib Point Op Shop fulfills several social, economic and environmental purposes in the local community.
It has not only become a source of premium quality, sensibly priced goods but also a drop-off facility for superfluous items which would otherwise go to landfill.
Furthermore, the Op Shop has become a meeting hub for people who can share parish activities and community information.
First published in the Western Port News – 12 August 2026
