RICHMOND’S Legacy op shop has found new digs and won’t have to close.
After the Gazette’s story in February sadly announced the probable demise of the op shop due to the impending sale of its premises, a young Richmond resident stepped forward to scoop them up.
Shaun Miller of Miller Property Developments has been a Hawkesbury resident since 2003, and plays A-Grade for Hawkesbury City Junior Rugby League Club.
“I saw the story in the Gazette,” he said. “We had the space [under No Limits Gym in Windsor Street, Richmond] and we were just using it for storage so we thought we’d help them out.
“We’d just done the refurbishment and have knocked some dividing walls out for them to give them a nice big space. We didn’t want to see them close.
“I really like the idea of Legacy helping people out. It was a bit disappointing they didn’t get any other offers when there are so many vacant shops.” Legacy op shop manager Rene Brooks rang the Gazette to tell us about the new premises they’d secured for “very reasonable rent”, and that they were organising the move with the help of Richmond Men’s Shed – and the RAAF.
She said one of the shop’s grateful RAAF customers who knew they were moving the shop soon, told his boss, 22 Squadron’s Wing Commander Paul Reddacliff, who soon came in to the shop.
He said he was there to find a costume for the Great Gatsby ball next month, but while there offered “a truck and some strong men” for the move.
The shop’s last day of trading is July 29. They’ll pack it all up on July 30, and hopefully move on July 31.
“We’d really like about three more volunteers to help man the new shop,” Ms Brooks said. “Also we’re still accepting donations of items at the old shop on East Market Street until the last day.”
Hawkesbury Legacy now has 180 widows to look after. The sale of the op shop premises is part of a bigger Legacy plan to sell off all its buildings in divisional areas, as it says the capital can be better used for senior widows and the younger families now needing help.
- Contact Ms Brooks on 4571 1978 or 0408 545 197 about volunteering or to organise a pick-up of donations if needed.