(L-R) Micheal Taylor, Lyn Diskon, Julie Poplin and Jenny Carter.
Eight years ago, the Boorowa Op Shop opened its doors with a simple but powerful mission: to serve the local community through sustainability, charity, and connection. Today, it stands as a beloved fixture of the town not just a place to shop, but a lifeline for many and a pillar of community spirit.
Julie Poplin, one of the shop’s founding members and an ongoing driving force behind its success, describes the Op Shop as more than just a retail space. “I’m on the management committee and do at least one shift a week sometimes more,” she says. “I also manage the roster for supervisors and keep track of volunteer hours.”
Run entirely by volunteers, the Op Shop has become a vital support system for the Boorowa region. In the past year alone, it donated an impressive $44,000 to local charities a number expected to grow this year. Volunteers are encouraged to nominate their preferred charity, with funds divided based on hours worked. Recipients include the Early Education Centre, Hospital Auxiliary, Burrowa House, and St Vincent de Paul.
The Op Shop also plays a key role in reducing landfill waste. Many of the items come from house clean outs and deceased estates, which the team collects, sorts, and re-sells. “We’re stopping a lot of stuff from going into landfill,” Julie explains. “But we also provide essentials people would otherwise have to leave town to find clothing, books, DVDs, school uniforms.”
Equally important is the shop’s social impact. For many volunteers, it’s a source of companionship and purpose. “It’s their outing for the week,” Julie says. “They come down, do a shift, chat, have a cuppa. It’s good for their wellbeing. And for those who can’t help at fundraisers like barbecues, this gives them a way to contribute.”
Community figure Lyn Diskon shared how the Op Shop has grown “I have been involved with the shop since its beginning and its a lot of work now but it was even more work in the start, but as the shop has come along and developed more it now runs with some level of autonomy which is something for us all to be proud of.”
Lyn who involved in a number of community projects, takes pride in building something from nothing. “I have travelled around a lot before eventually winding up in Boorowa and I’ve loved being a part of the community over the years, when I first came the Op shop wasn’t here and being a part of that growth has been amazing for me and its nice to feel like I have left my mark on the community in that I could walk away and the store would still operate.”
The Boorowa Op Shop is a shining example of what a small town can achieve when driven by care, collaboration, and grassroots action. It’s not just about secondhand goods it’s about first-rate community.
– Liam Stuart
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