Hospital op shop rises from the ashes

WINCHELSEA Hospital’s fundraising op shop has celebrated its reopening at a new location almost two years after its original site burned down.

Local stakeholders opened a new store at 10 Willis Street, known locally as “The Sheds”, as it continues planning for a permanent new home.

Hesse Rural Health board chair Ian Whiting and the hospital’s Ladies Auxiliary president Cheryl Mawson cut the ribbon in front of a crowd of dozens of local stakeholders, which included other auxillary committee members, hospital staff, volunteer organisations, Surf Coast Shire councillor Heather Wellington and residents.

“The opening day was a hugely successful, with a steady stream of customers over the long weekend,” a spokesperson said.

“This day would not have been possible without the huge array of donations and support from our local community and volunteers, whom we are extremely grateful to.”

The op shop raises money for the Winchelsea hospital, with volunteers contributing tens of thousands of dollars for the health service since its opening.

Shop volunteers and the broader Winchelsea community were devastated when an early-morning fire destroyed the original Gosney Street building in November 2020.

The hospital and the auxillary committee remains committed to establishing a permanent new op shop at Winchelsea’s former Orchard bakery (44-46 Main Street), but requires additional fundraising dollars and planning approval from the shire due to heritage overlays.

A rebuild appeal for the op shop has already attracted support from the hospital, Winchelsea Community Bank and local businesses.

Hesse Rural Health hosted its A Century of Brides exhibit during the June long weekend as its most recent contribution to the appeal, raising $3,500 from donations which the community bank will match.

The new op shop will be open from 10am-3pm from Friday to Monday each week, and accepts donations between 10am-2pm Mondays and Saturdays.