General News
18 June, 2023
Secondhand business a community success
Warracknabeal is well on its way to becoming the collectables and secondhand capital of regional Victoria. Yarriambiack Shire Council has added these details to town entrance signs. Soon the town will have five stores that sell secondhand or...
Warracknabeal is well on its way to becoming the collectables and secondhand capital of regional Victoria.
Yarriambiack Shire Council has added these details to town entrance signs.
Soon the town will have five stores that sell secondhand or recycled items.
Longtime Wheatlands Warehouse volunteer Lynette Bolwell remembers when the popular secondhand store was just a couple of trestles at the front of an empty building that had once been a busy garage.
Daniels Garage had been located at the site for many years before finally closing its doors.
The building was then used as offices before far-sighted retired butcher Robyn McCullough had an idea that a secondhand place, under the umbrella of Warracknabeal Wheatlands Agricultural Museum, could work.
Mrs Bolwell said the shop started by offering overflow items from the machinery museum.
Locals soon started asking if they could contribute goods.
"The historical society owns the shop and all the things are on consignment," Mrs Bolwell said.
"People bring them in, put prices on them and take a percentage of it.
"We give donations to organisations in town like the Lions Club, the Warracknabeal Band, the Girl Guides and others."
The warehouse has since expanded, with its stock today filling many rooms.
Mrs Bolwell was one of the first volunteers at Whetlands when it opened 25 years ago.
"It's been very exciting," she said. "It feels good meeting tourists from other parts of the country.
"For example, tourists who visit us from Western Australia encourage their friends and family to call in to Wheatlands.
"I've had a very happy time working in the shop. This October it will be 25 years for me."
During Covid, Mrs Bolwell used lockdown for cleaning.
"We were closed for a few weeks so it gave us a chance to tidy up the shop," she said.
Mrs Bolwell works three mornings a week and says she has no plans to retire any time soon.
Another business that's doing its bit to keep perfectly good items out of landfill and in circulation is Woodbine Opportunity Shop.
Valerie Wardle has been volunteering half a day every week at Woodbine for the past 15 years.
Making money for kids with special needs was one of her favourite aspects of the role, Mrs Wardle said.
"It feels good when I think that I'm making money for handicapped children," she said.
"The best situation is when you put something out and it sells that day."
Like Mrs Bolwell, Mrs Wardle says meeting new people is a definite advantage of her involvement with the shop.
"I missed that during the Covid period," she said.
"I think I'll keep working here while ever I can."