Gillingarra Op Shop

Gillingarra Op Shop run by the Gillingarra Sport and Recreation Club Inc. (Volunteer not for profit)
There is a cost associated with the ongoing maintenance of the Gillingarra community buildings, in particular the more historic ones. In order to achieve a standard with these community assets at which additional and more sustainable ventures can be hosted, the Community has set about raising funds. The Community's first initiative is the establishment of the Gillingarra Opportunity Shop at the old Gillingarra Schoolhouse. Additionally, a website is also planned and this will detail community events and Op Shop times.
To kick off the fundraising project there will be a ‘Drink, Drop or Swap’ event timed for 7pm Saturday 17th June 2017 at the Gillingarra Hall. The purpose of this event, other than to enjoy a chat over a drink and nibbles, is to source the start-up stock and some funds for the shop in the form of donations.
Donations to the Op Shop can be in the form of clothes, household goods, bric-a-brac and furniture but should be in a saleable condition. These can be left on the old Gillingarra School House verandah from 7.30am until 4pm, in accordance with the sign on the gate.
Large items can be dropped off by appointment - please email opshopgsrc@gmail.com to arrange. Donations of Op Shop necessities such as coat hangers, racks and book shelves will be gratefully accepted, as will donations of trees, plants and cuttings for the beautification of the grounds.
It is envisaged that the Op Shop will open once per month once it is established; dates and times will be advised as they come to hand.
Money raised from the sale of items in the Op Shop will be go towards maintenance of community buildings with some of it reinvested in local community activities.The church, school buildings and grounds are currently maintained and managed by the Gillingarra community. This community is home to active volunteers who drive the West Koojan-Gillingarra LCDC (Landcare) and the Gillingarra Sport and Recreation Club Inc. The Community, in the form of a not-for-profit entity, advertises the hall to groups that may be interested in making use of its facilities. The facilities are extensive and include a sporting field, a large and modern catering kitchen, a carpeted indoor sports-centre and also various meeting/function rooms.
In recent years volunteers have established a local water supply to service the community buildings. The Community has hosted many visiting caravan clubs and other groups in this facility, and also hosts an annual John Curtin Weekend for student volunteers, which is on again from 1-3 September 2017. (Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to contact the President, Jenny Kelly, at infogsrc@gmail.com).

About Gillingarra
Gillingarra (pronounced 'jill n garra') is a small farming community in the Shire of Victoria Plains. It is nestled between the Moore River and the Babilion Ranges, with New Norcia, Moora and Mogumber all being little more than a stone's throw away. Gillingarra is actually right in the heart of the Northern Valleys Newspaper distribution area, which is appropriate since, thanks to a passionate group of locals, this little place has a powerful pulse.
Although the Gillingarra area had been settled for a while prior to 1907, it wasn't until that year that the resident community banded together and built the first church and school buildings. In the years since then there have been several school closures and openings for a variety of reasons, with church and school buildings being rebuilt on occasion. The first Gillingarra Hall was constructed by residents in 1935 but a section of it has since been relocated and is now an important component of the presently well-equipped recreation facility.

[Gillingarra - Thought to be derived from DJurlingarra, meaning 'place of bones'. A local Moora elder, now deceased, reported that a young girl and boy who had eloped were speared there.]