THE MOUNT Gambier Women’s Work Depot will reach a significant milestone next week as it celebrates 50 years of service.
It has undergone many iterations across its five decades but the Commercial Street West business continues its tradition as an outlet for Limestone Coast residents to sell homemade products, including jams, chutneys, sweets and plush toys.
First opening its doors under the Odeon Theatre in 1970, the depot has experienced a number of challenges and triumphs while raising thousands of dollars for charity, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Depot president Jayleen Dowdell has been there from the start, stating she was “roped into” the service through a friend’s mother.
“She saw an article about a similar project in a women’s magazine and came to our home one day to ask if my mother was interested,” Ms Dowdell said.
“My mother flat out refused but suggested I may be interested, and I was.”
With humble beginnings, Ms Dowdell said some people originally believed the depot would not survive more than six months.
“There was mismatched furniture but we were just starting up slowly and we had to run raffles and bingo nights just to pay the rent,” she said.
“When we first started we were going to be more of a craft store but that was not going to generate enough turnover.
“We still had things on commission which would pay the rent and other expenses but it just was not enough, which is why some of us started cooking.”
Never anticipating the store would reach the 50-year milestone, Ms Dowdell said an original vision of five years was set by founding members.
“During those days there were not a lot of markets around and people could sort of do their own thing,” she said.
“We started a good time before the markets did here and we have been able to keep going, even through COVID-19 where some of our workers were not comfortable being out in the public.
“But that was fair enough and those who were comfortable to work picked up a few extra shifts to help the store get through.”
Ms Dowdell said ensuring the depot had the financial capacity to stay afloat was the biggest challenge.
“There have been a few occasions where we thought we were not going to make it but we have had people donating goods and telling us to keep the money to help see us through.”
While the depot serves a business function, Ms Dowdell said it was the social interactions she looked forward to most.
“People come from everywhere to support us and there are a lot of people in town that also support us,” she said.
“But it is also about having that contact with other people that you would not have at home which really makes it worth while.
“I enjoy my time here and I enjoy what I do, I never thought it would be my life’s work but here I am.”
The depot will celebrate its 50th anniversary on August 4 with cake and coffee from 10am.
