We love a good opening here at One Hour Out, but this one is pretty special. The state government has just announced a $400,000 grant for a brand new food support hub to open in Bendigo.
Bendigo Foodshare, a charitable organisation which collects food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it across Central Victoria, is moving into part of the former Ice Works on Garsed Street in the Bendigo CBD, breathing new life into the vacant industrial building.
The new home for Bendigo Foodshare comes after almost five years of searching and planning, in which time demand for food relief has been on the rise – particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year saw the organisation’s activities overflow from their Long Gully premises into the car park, and local small businesses have been donating storage space to help operations continue. It brings home to roost that in times of need, communities band together to get the job done.
Despite the need for food services rising 40 percent since the start of the pandemic, chair of Bendigo Foodshare Cathie Steele says there is a silver lining; their work has been put firmly on the government’s radar.
“We are moving very fast, and the government wants it to move very fast,” Ms Steele said.
The site is set to be redeveloped pro-bono by local business Y2 Architecture, and will include space for food storage – from dry to frozen – as well as meeting spaces, amenities and offices. The public won’t be directly served food from the premise (that’s not Bendigo Foodshare’s practice), but it will be an integral HQ to their food relief service to various communities.
If you want to find out more, and how you can get involved or donate to Bendigo Foodshare, head to their website.
THE DETAILS: WHAT: Bendigo Foodshare WHERE: Ice Works Building, Garsed Street, Bendigo WHEN: July 2021 MORE INFO: Bendigo Foodshare
Hear that? That’s the clattering and whining of sewing machines working late into the night right across Victoria.
As a result of the most recent directive from Captain Dan that the whole state must mask up, sewing machines everywhere have been dragged out of dusty hallway cupboards and put to work.
We’ve put together a list of those who are sewing masks for the community. Some haven’t sowed in years, and some are well known local designers. All are doing their bit to ‘Mask Up Victoria’.
Fern & Frost
Wattlebank #twohoursout
In 2014 Annebelle van Tongeren walked away from a three-decade career as a television stylist to seek out calmer climates on average in the Bass Coast with partner Martyn Frost.
Now the couple offer a range of wellbeing products on their store including pure cotton face masks made to order.
Great Ocean Road tour operator Kangaroo Jack has always had a strong relationship with the First Nation community of the region.
When tours were put on hold, they partnered with members of the Indigenous community to print traditional designs onto face masks to supply to the local community and beyond.
15% of sale proceeds will go to Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre which provides educational programs for the community.
Lizzie moved to the Mornington Peninsula ten years ago and was instantly inspired by the coastal environment. It has since become a central motif for her acrylic painting with overlapping iconography and hues of the land and seascape.
Her designs are printed on the masks with water-soluble inks and are currently only available at Wise & Co Dispensary in Balnarring.
Lizey Jane has been collecting and selling vintage fabric in Ballarat for several years. With the pandemic resulting in mandatory face mask for everyone, Lizey is sewing as many masks as she can in between homeschooling three kids.
Co-Founder & Director of JIMMY POSSUM & Mimi The Label, Margot Spalding is coming out of her retirement for a limited time to create the much-needed masks for Australia. She personally cuts and makes every mask, these masks are colourful, full of personality, just like Margot herself.
Warrandyte based Minnie & Lou make eco-friendly wheat packs, gift stationery and art prints from local artist Jacinta Payne.
Their masks are the recommended 3 layer construction and made entirely from upcycled materials, continuing with our efforts to provide earth-friendly products.
Sarah learnt to sew from her Mother while on extended maternity leave with her second son. What started out as a way to dress her two boys, turned into a popular market business with an online store.
Sarah’s masks come in three different sizes with a range of kid-friendly designs.
Fiona McPherson was once the Global Fabric sourcing manager for Rip Curl. A role that became particularly handy when she launched her own fashion label in 2016.
These three-layered masks are made from the companies remnant end of roll fabrics as well as Fiona’s very own fabric stash that she keeps on hand for inspiration.
Designer and maker Leanne Coates producers a range of small-batch garments under the brand name CAVALETTI. Her outlet ‘CAVALETTI gallery’ on Piper St, Kyneton also ranges designs from those who share Leanne’s passion for ‘Slow Fashion’.
There are three styles of face masks currently available, animal prints, botanicals and a range of Japanese Textile designs.
The masks made by these designers are re-usable cloth face masks and satisfy the requirement from the health department to wear a face mask. They are not a replacement for medical-grade masks (and have not been tested or proven to protect against COVID-19).
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