AN important part of the Tooleybuc community for many years, Bridge Keepers Op Shop has been given a new lease on life by Echuca Discoveries taking over the enterprise from the band of dedicated volunteers who founded and originally operated the fundraising project.
There are a few changes taking place as the shop becomes more than just an op shop, offering local produce and products produced by some of the participants involved in the Echuca Discoveries programs.
Some of the local produce includes the Nanna’s Kitchen range of sauces and chutneys, Wood Wood Honey, locally produced pistachio nuts and even fresh flowers.
Echuca Discoveries’ Swan Hill manager, Joanne O’Bree, said the op shop was already great but with such a vast pool of people with talents within the organisation they had homed in on what they could do.
“We have three people who run their own cookie business so we are selling the cookies in the shop – they are getting a following with customers coming just to buy the cookies and they are selling out every day,” Ms O’Bree said.
“There are also guys involved in our woodwork program making things like wishing wells, dog kennels, bird houses, toys and various other things and once completed they also go on sale in the shop.
“We have a group on Mondays that works under the guidance of a pottery teacher.
“They make a lot of pottery – beautiful original handmade pottery – and some of that makes it into the op shop as well.
“It also gives our guys a chance to showcase what they can do, not just the days they are working in here but also the other days they are producing things.”
The group has plans to also be a tourist information hub providing visitors with advice on places to buy local produce, find accommodation, camp and find a meal.
Ms O’Bree said they were looking at putting together a booklet on the district’s highlights and what was available to visitors and had enlisted the help of Murray River Council.
The shop is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am till 2.30pm and three Saturdays in the month from 10.30am till 12.30pm.
