Community Helpers Inc.

The beginning

“In January 1999, Faye and Colin Henschke expressed a desire to help Carers’ Link Barossa and Districts Inc raise awareness of the role of carers in the Barossa and raise money for carer needs (Colin provided initial capital to establish the venture).

“Their idea was to establish a second-hand clothing shop where the community could not only buy clothes but could also find out more about supports available to carers and contribute to these supports through the money raised by their purchases.

“The first clothing shop was officially opened in Tanunda on January 19, 1999 by Margaret Lehmann. Great enthusiasm from the team of volunteers at the shop and genuine community support through donation of goods enabled Faye and Colin’s idea to grow. By the end of the year, a board of management had been assembled, a constitution had been written, and an incorporated body officially known as Community Helpers Inc. was born on the third of September 1999.

“The initial shop proved to be too small so the shop expanded to the adjoining eastern shop. Donations of furniture and electrical goods began to be accepted so, in 2000, the committee decided to open a furniture shop in a red brick building further to the east. Both stores were managed by Faye.”

The Next Phase (The birth of the warehouse)

“In approximately 2002, the furniture shop was moved to a larger premises on the corner of First and Murray Street in Nuriootpa (and) Bob Cundy was appointed the volunteer manager of this store.

“The store proved to very successful and extra storage space was acquired in the warehouse over the railroad opposite Penfolds in Nuriootpa. Weekend sales began occurring from the warehouse which once again proved quite popular with the public.

“Due to the good returns of the furniture stores, the committee in 2005 took the risk of renting a larger warehouse with car parking on Railway Terrace in Nuriootpa.

“In 2007, David Penny was appointed as the first paid part-time manager.

“During this time, the clothing and bric-a-brac store in Tanunda moved across the car park to our current location in Tanunda with Norma Liersch as manager.

“We took over the entire premises when the video store closed in approximately 2017.

“Sales from the Railway Terrace warehouse boomed. However, whilst the premises were larger, they did not prove to be very volunteer-friendly. The floors were uneven, the roof had leaks and there was limited heating and cooling.

“The committee started to look for commercial land to purchase, to enable us to build our own purpose-built premises. Land was found at the old Marshall’s salvage yard on Murray Street, near the Sturt Highway end, and a contract was signed for its purchase.

“We were successful in winning a State Government ‘Fund your Neighbourhood’ grant of $100,000 and a Federal ‘Building Better Regions’ grant of $300,000. Together, with borrowing funds from BankSA, it became a reality to build our own premises.

“Designed by JB Architects and built by Juncken Builders, the new building was officially opened in July 2019 by Federal Minister Tony Pasin (who assisted us with our grant submission).

“Our new premises have been designed to be disabled-friendly and are greatly appreciated by all the volunteers.

“Many thanks go to the committee members and volunteers at the time, who spent countless hours making the project and move a reality, and to the Warehouse Manager at that time, Helen Christie, for making the transition possible.

“The move has been popular with the Barossa community and has seen rising sales since its inception.

“Today, Community Helpers Inc. continues to raise money through our Op Shop and Furniture Warehouse to support the greater Barossa community.

“Vital to the success of Community Helpers Inc. is the ongoing support of the community in donating and buying goods, and of those valuable volunteers who give of their time and energy to support its fundraising activities.”