OzHarvest volunteers Lyndia King, Deb Taylor and Cate Carrigan. Photos: Marion Williams.
A new community space in Cobargo is being warmly welcomed and strongly supported by locals.
It is multifunctional, serving as a food hub, a bazaar and a place for creative spirits to come together.
It is the latest initiative of Cobargo Commons (Coco), a co-operative run by community-minded Charlie Bamford on a property he owns in Cobargo’s main street. Before Coco was established in early 2024, Little Birdie Vintage had occupied the building.
Coco’s earlier endeavours include Cobargo Community Garden, Coco Kitchen and The Living Room which among other things has become a venue for local musicians.
With Cobargo Bazaar opening on 12 January there will only be two more gigs at The Living Room.
The free community food hub is being run by volunteers from the OzHarvest Sapphire Coast North Chapter. The first one was held on 7 January.
Deb Taylor, who is running it, said they were supposed to be running it in the garden.
“It was so hot that Cobargo Bazaar very kindly offered this space,” she said. “It is air-conditioned so it is better for the produce and the people.”
Ms Taylor said it was a new venture for the OzHarvest chapter.
Normally they deliver food to primary schools and preschools and other community organisations in the Bermagui, Fairhaven, Cobargo and Quaama areas, “but we decided to do this so anyone who needs it has access”.
Twice a week OzHarvest volunteer Cate Carrigan picks up food from Honorbread, Lake Road Pantry and Woolworths in Bermagui, while Lyndia King does the pick-up from Aldi and Woolworths in Narooma. Alongside the tables heaving with pantry staples and fresh produce was a basket of brightly coloured children’s croc-like clogs, also free.
Georgia Drenth and Jennifer James of Cobargo Bazaar.
Residents are already donating excess produce from their properties.
The air was fragrant with basil that had been picked that morning. A woman associated with local markets had brought in a box with bottles of cordial and jars of honey, along with a box of cherries which disappeared in 45 minutes.
“Another local brought in limes and blueberries so anyone with excess produce is bringing it in for the community,” Ms Taylor said. “It is a great thing. They are so giving and caring and sharing.”
The volunteers were very surprised by how many people turned up on the first day given it was very hot and in the following week when rain threatened.
“It will take off and it will be huge,” Ms Taylor said.
The rest of the building is full of gorgeous vintage clothing collected by Georgia Drenth.
She used to have a vintage store, Happy Go Lucky, on the other side of the main street. The building was destroyed by the Black Summer bushfires. The new Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre now stands in its place.
“This is the last of my collection,” Ms Drenth said, surveying the vast array of quality clothing. It sounds like she will soon start a new collection, confessing to be a bit of an addict to buying vintage gear.
Helping her out is Jennifer James.
Outside the community space where OzHarvest is running a free community food hub.
“I came on board because I wanted to do storytelling and creative writing, maybe playwriting in a space, bring people in and have fun,” Ms James said. Other activities could include a mending circle, a chatterbox table and perhaps small workshops.
“People want connection,” she said. “It pops up all the time. It feels very important.”
The other person sharing the space is Callum Merrett, a member of the Spooky Men’s Chorale. He has a choir that practises there on Thursday evenings.
Ms Drenth and Ms James encourage people to get involved or drop in with ideas for using the community space.
The OzHarvest volunteers love seeing the grocery supplies disappearing into people’s shopping bags because it means those people will be getting something to eat.
Ms Taylor’s message to the community is that the OzHarvest community food hub is there for them and that donations are welcome too.
“If people want to donate any produce, it will be gratefully received and distributed.”
Cobargo Bazaar is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, while the community food hub operates every Wednesday from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm. Donations of fresh produce and pantry items can be made on the day from 11:30 am.
