Op Shop wins Community Excellence Award

by SANDI MILLER
24th August 2026

WORTHY WINNER of the Community Excellence Award at this year’s Manningham Community Awards, The Lions Club of Warrandyte Op Shop provides an invaluable community service to the community of Warrandyte and the broader Manningham.
The Op Shop provides not only a way to save items from landfill and a place to purchase quality second-hand wares, but is also a drawcard for bargain-hunting tourists who seek out Warrandyte for its plethora of recycle and upcycle stores.
At the heart of the Lions Club of Warrandyte Opportunity Shop is a team of motivated volunteers that give their time selflessly in the service of the Manningham community.
The Op Shop and its dedicated volunteers fill a unique and integral role in Manningham: they support the Lions Club of Warrandyte to fund its charitable activities, all while providing a welcoming space for local residents and the wider community.
Lions Club Vice President Don Hughes told M&N Bulletin that in the past 12 months, 25 volunteers of all ages have accumulated over 3,500 volunteer hours — more than 140 hours each — enabling the Op Shop to increase its operating hours to seven days a week.

“This is a direct response to community demand and serves to illustrate the importance of the Op Shop in the community.
The extended hours ultimately helped generate over $135,000 in funding that has been distributed to community groups over the last year alone.”

However, the last 12 months is not an isolated achievement; Op Shop volunteers have supported the community continuously for over 50 years.
The core mission of Lions Op Shop volunteers is to support and empower the people of Manningham by generating critical funds for frontline community needs.
These funds directly support the wellbeing and development of the community.
Over the last 12 months the organisation has excelled in meeting this purpose.
Organisations that have benefitted come from across Manningham including:

  • sporting and arts clubs
  • educational organisations
  • disability and community advocacy groups
  • environmental groups

Some notable examples are:

  • Warrandyte Primary School — $21,000 for heritage building works and literacy
  • CareNet — $11,800 towards food relief programs
  • Doncaster All Abilities Basketball — $7,000 to assist people of all abilities to connect and participate in physical activity
  • Andersons Creek Primary School — $6,000 to deliver a road safety and cycling program
  • Warrandyte Historical Society — $4,400 to aid data collection and storage
  • Eastern Emergency Relief Network — $2,000 to provide emergency and crisis support
  • The Pettet Foundation— $2,000 to assist families and children requiring crisis support
  • Warrandyte Netball Club — $2,000 for uniforms and equipment to support youth participation in sport

The remaining funds were predominantly distributed to organisations that also service the local area.
Many smaller clubs and grassroots organisations have programs that, without this support, would otherwise remain wholly unfunded.
Don said the Lions Op Shop is an inclusive third space in Manningham and plays a vital role in community outreach.

“The shop is intentionally managed as a safe space where everybody is welcomed.
Many shoppers are locals who visit the store as a means of community connection and are treated as friends rather than customers.
The team is always ready to support their community with a kind word or sympathetic ear and are often at the frontline to recognise people in need of further assistance.
They provide this where possible, including information regarding wider support services when needed,” he said.

Overall, he said the volunteers at the Lions Op Shop serve with passion and consistency.
They directly contribute to the wellbeing, development, and cohesion of the Manningham community.
“Congratulations to the fantastic volunteers who dedicate their time to the Lions Op Shop,” said Don

 

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