Community rallies behind Rosewall Cafe
On a sunny autumn morning in Corio, Geelong, Kathleen Devlin prepares the day’s soup. It’s pumpkin, the customers’ favourite. She’s right – by lunch time there’s a queue of people lining up for a chat and a generous serving of her famous soup.
Kathleen is a volunteer at the Rosewall Café, a community enterprise which has been running for nearly 12 months. It is an outcome of the Corio/Norlane Neighbourhood Renewal Project.
The State Government’s Community Enterprise funded projects aim to help strengthen disadvantaged communities by creating employment and training opportunities, stimulating innovative community business ventures and finding new ways to deliver local services.
The Rosewall Café provides Corio and Norlane residents, school children and businesses with low cost healthy snacks and lunches and a catering service.
It’s also a place where people can learn basic hospitality training in food preparation and handling.
But that’s just on the surface says Kathleen.
“The café is more than an eatery. It’s a place where friendships are formed and where people can come to get connected to our community,” she says.
“There are a lot of people who are very alone. Opening our doors to them has changed their lives. They now have a place where they can feel safe and welcome.
She says volunteering here has been a great experience.
“Working here has given me the chance to meet new people, keep myself occupied, learn new skills and widen my circle of friends,” says Kathleen.
Kaylene Jones, Rosewall Café and catering manager says her job is really important to her.
“I’m only rostered on for 15 hours a week, but I’m always here. They can’t keep me away.”
The Rosewall Café was established after consultation with the local community highlighted the need for such a facility in the area. The closest café was more than 2.5km away, but due to low incomes or lack of transport options some local residents could not access it.
Kaylene says the café benefits the whole community.
“The café is a really positive outcome for our community. It symbolises a huge achievement which we are all proud of.
“Even people who haven’t physically visited are being influenced by the positive energy we are creating. More and more people are interested in what we are doing and the buzz is growing,” says Kaylene .
With the assistance of the Department and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Rosewall Café has partnered with the City of Greater Geelong and Neighbourhood Renewal to expand the café to meet increasing demand from the community.
The extended operating hours mean community members, particularly the long term unemployed can gain work experience without having to complete a full hospitality certificate.
Kaylene says the future looks bright for Rosewall Café.
“We have some really good ideas about how we can continue to provide more services to our local community. Things like a mentoring program and partnering with job network providers are some of the ideas we are working on, so watch this space.”
Read more about the Community Enterprise Grants
Linked page opens in a new window