Lets bring the old girl back to life
Written by Mel
Wow.
It’s hard to put into words the sheer depth of feeling at having bought the Rocky Bay Store.
This week we went over to mum and dad’s to watch the Rocky Bay Store Variety Show (thanks to Sue Milinchip). The poem by Shivani Lovegrove (about 9 minutes into the recording) was, for me, like a lightning rod, harnessing the community’s unwavering resolve to see their store revived. The singing of Hallelujah at the end embodied the community spirit and set the hairs on the back of my neck on end.
It is this same community that Simon and I have now found ourselves front and centre of.
The moment that Simon and I saw these sections we knew they were right for us. In fact, I feel the the store chose us as much as we chose the store. We are just the right mix to take on this project. We can see the vision as plain as day. We are optimistic that whatever is thrown our way we can navigate through. With Simon’s experience in getting shit done and my ability to bring the community on the journey we are just the right combination. We are lucky to have sufficient resources that we won’t be scared away easily by the inevitable challenges that arise.
Mum reckons that my nana probably didn’t go to the Rocky Bay Store. I like to think she must have, at least once! I certainly feel close to my nana when I’m there.
When I am on the site, I don’t feel anything but warmth. Not from the fire that ripped through, but from the accumulated years of this place being the heart of a community. It’s almost like the store is calling to Simon and I to bring back her purpose, to sit proud at the centre of the Rocky Bay community again.
Simon talked about us being the custodians of the store, and I have to agree. The store was standing there long before I was born. And it will continue to stand there after my time on this earth is up. I can only hope that the adventure that Simon and I are embarking on can go down in the annals of the store as the people that brought the old girl back to life.
She certainly is a beautiful building with a heart of gold.