Kyabram store ‘rises from the ashes’

The Kyabram Thrift Shop team (from left) Manager Carmel Phillips and volunteers Lauren Gillie, Kim Mellis, Jo Blyth, Lisa Stow and Paul Marshall. (Photo courtesy of Jemma Jones, Kyabram Free Press).

BY LERISSE SMITH

When fire tore through Kyabram Salvos Thrift Shop in May this year, it could have ended a decade of service to the community – but instead, a vibrant new temporary home has risen from the ashes.

Just three months after the deliberately lit blaze shattered the Goulburn Valley community in northern Victoria, the shop team has rallied and reopened in an interim location, the vacant Kyabram Salvation Army church located at the rear of the burned-out building in Unitt St.

Now transformed into a bustling pop-up store, the space has reunited the close-knit community after the sudden loss of their much-loved shop, which served Kyabram for 10 years.

“We are actually bursting at the seams!” said Carmel Phillips, Kyabram Thrift Shop Manager.

“We have got so much stock, and because the space is smaller, we have nowhere to put it all. So, we have started to have a few sales just to keep it moving. The support and kindness from the community has been incredible. The fire was a big loss. The volunteers were devastated. It was more than a shop; it was a place to connect. The shop meant a lot – it was a real hub where people came for bargains or knick-knacks and felt part of the community. It was the largest thrift store in the area.”

Ceiling damage from the fire.

Since opening five weeks ago, the temporary shop has drawn in volunteers from both Kyabram and Rochester, working side by side to serve the community, with the teamwork forging a special bond.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, a team of volunteers commuted to Rochester for nearly two months to keep them involved in store operations, with Rochester now returning the favour at the Unitt premises. New friendships blossomed during the eight weeks spent together at Rochester, with a deeper connection quickly formed between the two stores.

But soon, the Kyabram community started asking: “When is our store coming back?” That simple question then lit the spark for an exciting new venture.

Carmel, together with Majors Greg and Lynne Turnbull, Corps Officers at Campaspe Shire Salvos, took a look just behind the burned-out site at the unused Salvation Army church building, and saw potential for a temporary store. Permission was granted, and within two weeks, a Facebook post announced the new pop-up shop.

The response? Immediate and overwhelming. Donations poured in.

Stock also arrived from Rochester and Echuca stores to help out. “It was really amazing,” recalled Carmel. “Everyone just got involved. We probably spent a good week, weekends too, getting everything ready. Despite the devastation, the corps and community have really come together. Greg and Lynne have been great supporters.”

With Aaron Rausch, Salvos Thrift Shop Business Consultant, Divisional Governance, sourcing racks, benches and shelves, and volunteers turning the back section of the interim premises into a sorting zone, the church space quickly evolved.

And its location, right next door to Salvos Doorways, adds even more value – clients seeking support can now pop into the store too. Additional features include a cosy community corner that now welcomes anyone needing a cuppa, a chat, or simply a quiet moment.

Support from Greg, Lynne and Aaron behind the scenes has helped keep things running smoothly for the team, too.

The local community has generously donated an array of items from clothing to bric-a-brac to establish the interim premises.

For Lisa Stow, a long-time volunteer at Kyabram’s store, seeing the interim premises so warmly embraced by the local residents has been a huge morale boost for the dedicated team.

“The community love it,” she said. “They are all just happy we have opened up and they can come in. They have been asking, ‘When is the new shop coming?’”

Word of mouth and the local media have played a vital role in bringing the regulars back to the Unitt St premises, in a community grappling with the cost of living. The store draws in people from all walks of life, from young families to locals from diverse backgrounds, even seasonal tomato pickers.

The store has provided community support for them, and been a safety net, a lifesaver for them, Carmel added.

And despite losing their beloved store, with no timeline yet for the much-anticipated rebuild due to the presence of asbestos, the spirit in Kyabram remains unshaken.

“It’s a place where it doesn’t matter who you are – we talk to everybody,” Carmel emphasised.

“That is the difference with the Salvo store. It puts us in our own unique little corner. Because of what we give to them, they give back. The volunteers and community know they have not been forgotten. We are back here – and that is the important thing. We are supporting each other.”