One man’s trash is a community’s

By Good News Detectives – Teri, Belinda and Anna, All Aboard disABILITY Support Services

Earlier this year, Leanne and Darren Reynolds, owners of the Anglesea General Store, Surfcoast Hub Café, visited the Re-Sale Shed at the Anglesea Waste and Resource Recovery Facility.

They were seeking something special and pertinent to the Surfcoast location, to add to the children’s play area at the café.

Amongst all the various paraphernalia, they discovered a dilapidated old speed boat. Their vision became clear and they purchased the old boat for just $50. Jim Tutt, from the Board of Management of the Resale Shed, generously delivered the boat to the café on a trailer.

It was two regular, local customers of the café who took it upon themselves to refurbish the boat back to its former glory. It took these skilful, retired gentlemen two weeks to complete the overhaul and they did a fabulous job.

The rescued boat now sits proudly in the garden outside the Hub Café, it’s new purpose to stimulate the imagination of visiting children. Leanne and Darren have been busy creating a relaxed, safe and child friendly play space for families vising the café. With the COVID Lockdown over recent months, the space has been off limits to customers, however, relaxing restrictions have mean that the space is now open and welcoming people again.

Leanne says they plan to have a competition to name the boat in coming weeks and welcomes suggestions from the community.

All Aboard disABILITY Support Services creates inclusive community opportunities, for people with disabilities to live, work and play on the Surf Coast.