A band of volunteers is hard at work in a big shed just off the Princes Highway at Swan Reach where they are busy setting up the Twin Rivers Lions Club’s shed shop and community book exchange.
Led by President Desma Payne and Vice President Lynn Kohler (known to many as the Queen of Recycling), the volunteers hope they’ll be ready to open their doors to the public in spring.
The shop will stock around 100 different items made from donated materials and the money raised will go towards the shop’s new home at the planned community hub in Johnsonville.
Local MP Darren Chester ran into Desma (centre) and Lynn (right) as they worked to set up the shop.
“There are people doing great work in all corners of Gippsland. The commitment of Gippslanders to do their part to improve their corner of the world never ceases to amaze me,” Mr Chester said.
“Volunteers like those involved with the Twin Rivers Lions Club make a meaningful and valuable contribution to our community and to the vibrancy and inclusiveness of our region, including our small towns.”
The Twin Rivers Lions Club works hard to make a positive difference to the environment. It started out by rescuing good quality material from landfill. That material is turned into aprons, clothing for dolls and teddy bears, bunting and fabric shopping bags during the club’s community sewing bees held each Tuesday.
The club also collects a number of specific items for recycling, including spectacles and glasses, postage stamps and stamp collections.
While the group always readily receives unwanted good quality items, it also welcomes anyone who wants to pitch in and help out in whatever way they can. Even if that’s just popping in for a chat.
If you want to help out, keep an eye on the Twin Rivers Lions Club’s page where they regularly call for donations of specific items they need.
And if you’d like to drop by before the shop’s official opening, its doors are always open on Tuesdays between 10am and 2pm.
