Jim Fagan
Katie Rose Cottage Hospice opened its first op shop in Tewantin five years ago and store manager, Tina Grigson, believes it wouldn’t be still operating nearly as successfully as it has, if donations had not been of a superbly high quality.
And she is equally certain this “most amazing support” for the compassionate work of the Doonan hospice will continue when the new Katie Rose Op Shop opens in the main street this Monday at 9am at Shop 5, 84 Poinciana Avenue, just around the corner from Woolworths.
The charity previously had two shops in Tewantin, one selling fashion and the other homewares. The opportunity to amalgamate came when the building, formerly Auswide Bank, became available.
Volunteers and tradesmen moved in, laid a new floor, built shelves, a counter, painted it throughout and in a short time had the place looking like a mini department store.
Tina has been store manager for two years.
“One of the advantages of the new store is that our customers will have more space to move around and see what’s for sale,“ Tina said.
“We have a little bit of everything. We have our high-quality fashion wear with good brand names and everything from crystal, plasticware, cookware, manchester, indeed, anything you can think of.
“Also, our ladies will have the chance to be together in one shift. The other two stores were small and with Covid it was very difficult to have more than one volunteer in the shop.
“Now our volunteers can see and talk to each other and not feel isolated.”
Tina, who lives in Tewantin, has been a Katie Rose volunteer for two years.
“When I heard about the hospice and its caring services, I thought it would be a wonderful organisation to be part of. The concept of people having end of life care in a beautiful home environment with their family before they pass is very important to me.
“Also, I have worked in the recycling industry before and I believe the work of any op shop is very valuable to the community. Not everyone can afford brand new.
“We have a wonderful team for the New Year and we all want to ensure continuing revenue for Katie Rose. So much is happening. We are planning extensions at the hospice by adding two bedrooms and early this year we will be introducing an outreach palliative care service.”
The op in op shop is short for opportunity and Tina and her 20 volunteers intend making the most of theirs when customers come into the new store.
“We want to tell people about Katie Rose and the caring work it does.”
Katie Rose Cottage Hospice chair Carol Raye said: “We are delighted to bring this new shop to the community and it is especially pleasing that it brings our hard working and valuable volunteers together.
“Their dedication to supporting our work is amazing and we are always appreciative of the support from the community.
“Please take a look when you are next in Tewantin and visit our new and beautiful Op Shop. Tina and the team are looking forward to seeing you.”
