WATERLOO: David Young has volunteered with the Waterloo Recycling Workshop (WRW) for more than 10 years. Located in a garage beneath the Turanga flats at 1 Phillip Street, the workshop opens every Friday from 7.30am to 11.30am, providing affordable furniture and non-electrical household goods (crockery, utensils, bric-a-brac) to locals. The activity helps generate a warm community spirit.
Mr Young assists with setup, cleanup and customer service. “I love it!” he says. “I like to see the stalls looking colourful and interesting.”
The WRW is a project of Counterpoint Community Services. The neighbourhood centre, with sites in Waterloo and Alexandria, was established in 1977. Its programs offer support to housing tenants, resident action groups, cultural organisations and more.
Workshop coordinator Elle Brind is delighted to see people gather for bargain shopping and social interaction. “It’s so important to be with others, to share in community,” she says. “We laugh a lot, and we help each other.
“The proceeds help cover costs and any additional proceeds go toward Counterpoint projects.”
Over the years, the WRW has run alongside like-minded initiatives including the Cycle Recycle Club (bike repairs and maintenance), which now operates from the adjacent garage on Saturdays from 12pm to 5pm, and an expanded volunteer-run market.
The carpark market, managed by Gerard Virgona, is held on Friday mornings, with stalls offering fresh bread, fruit and vegetables, vintage clothes, shoes, musical instruments and collectibles. Gerard believes that “community includes everyone”.
The Counterpoint Community Services Volunteer Awards are coming up, so if you’d like to nominate someone, please email info@counterpointcs.org.au by Friday June 9.
