The Benalla Food Co-op is in its 15th year of operation and currently has a membership of 77 households with over sixty of them shopping regularly.
Earlier this month, this milestone anniversary was celebrated with a lunch attended by 23 general and committee co-op members, including several of the newer members. Everyone contributed something to the meal, making use of co-op produce wherever possible. During the celebration lunch Christine gave a short talk on the history of the food co-op, Sonia thanked the members for their contribution, and a photograph was taken for inclusion in an article in The Ensign.
This article, along with some other forms or promotion will be on the agenda for the coming months, as the committee has agreed we have room to grow our numbers. One of our new Duty Managers, Louisa Marstan has offered to assist the committee in the areas of promotional and marketing materials, which we hope to have prepared in the second half of this year. This will include updating and reprinting the flyers, fridge magnet yearly calendar with open dates and possibly marketing via social media. Sonia also plans to refresh (or possibly remake) the aprons as they are looking a bit tired.
The committee made the decision to purchase a chest freezer to help address the issues of stock loss due to bugs throughout the warmer weather. Whilst we have still experienced some stock losses, it certainly has helped to improve the situation. Rosalie has also been vigilant with cleaning and the changing of bait traps. Additionally, a working bee has been organised for Monday 25th May.
Little has changed with our product list this year. Price Increases have been significant for some products. Some of our regular and much-loved products such as the range or organic spices, cocoa and more recently, some of the flours have been difficult to source for a variety of reasons. We successfully sourced organic spices from an alternative supplier, Terra Madre and may continue to do so in the future, depending on Austral Herbs stock availability. Our markup remains at 20%.
The Committee decided to make the earlier open time on Monday afternoons a permanent fixture to our monthly schedule.
Thank you to Kate Holmes for the overall accounting matters (see Kate’s financial year report). Thank you Christine for continuing to coordinate the roster and Peter for ongoing management of the day-to-day accounts as well as the biannual stock take. The Holmes continue to be a huge support to me in my role as coordinator.
Thank you to Rhona for the regular email update despite challenges getting through to some members email addresses.
Thank you to Rosalie for her continued efforts with cleaning.
Thank you Julienne, for packaging the most recent spices delivery. And Maren and Marlies for their ongoing assistance with the spices.
Thank you to my husband Damien who continues to regularly collect products and helped unload and stack into the cupboards.
Thank you to Beverley Lee and Peter Maddock for maintaining our social media and BSFG website presence.
A special thank you to Glenys Gill and Sally O’Brien for the many years serving as computer operators and who have both stepped back this year due to personal circumstances. We wish Glenys all the best with her recovery from treatment.
Co-op Committee: Sonia, Christine (rosters), Peter (finance), Rhona (weekly up-dates), Judy (BSFG secretary), Rosalie (cleaning), Tanya and Loren.
Duty managers: Sonia, Tanya, Rosalie, Christine, Rhona, Joy, Robyn, Eleanor, Claire, Jenny Muller, Loren Atkinson (new/returning) and Louisa Marsten (new)
iPad Operators: Peter, Karen, Simon, Stacy, Deanne, Graham, Jenny, Julienne, Maren, Marlies, Tracy and Robert.
Enquires/feedback welcome via the BSFG website or the Co-op email [email protected]
Sonia Bourke
Thursday 28 May 2026
Earlier this month, this milestone anniversary was celebrated with a lunch attended by 23 general and committee co-op members, including several of the newer members. Everyone contributed something to the meal, making use of co-op produce wherever possible. During the celebration lunch Christine gave a short talk on the history of the food co-op, Sonia thanked the members for their contribution, and a photograph was taken for inclusion in an article in The Ensign.
This article, along with some other forms or promotion will be on the agenda for the coming months, as the committee has agreed we have room to grow our numbers. One of our new Duty Managers, Louisa Marstan has offered to assist the committee in the areas of promotional and marketing materials, which we hope to have prepared in the second half of this year. This will include updating and reprinting the flyers, fridge magnet yearly calendar with open dates and possibly marketing via social media. Sonia also plans to refresh (or possibly remake) the aprons as they are looking a bit tired.
The committee made the decision to purchase a chest freezer to help address the issues of stock loss due to bugs throughout the warmer weather. Whilst we have still experienced some stock losses, it certainly has helped to improve the situation. Rosalie has also been vigilant with cleaning and the changing of bait traps. Additionally, a working bee has been organised for Monday 25th May.
Little has changed with our product list this year. Price Increases have been significant for some products. Some of our regular and much-loved products such as the range or organic spices, cocoa and more recently, some of the flours have been difficult to source for a variety of reasons. We successfully sourced organic spices from an alternative supplier, Terra Madre and may continue to do so in the future, depending on Austral Herbs stock availability. Our markup remains at 20%.
The Committee decided to make the earlier open time on Monday afternoons a permanent fixture to our monthly schedule.
Thank you to Kate Holmes for the overall accounting matters (see Kate’s financial year report). Thank you Christine for continuing to coordinate the roster and Peter for ongoing management of the day-to-day accounts as well as the biannual stock take. The Holmes continue to be a huge support to me in my role as coordinator.
Thank you to Rhona for the regular email update despite challenges getting through to some members email addresses.
Thank you to Rosalie for her continued efforts with cleaning.
Thank you Julienne, for packaging the most recent spices delivery. And Maren and Marlies for their ongoing assistance with the spices.
Thank you to my husband Damien who continues to regularly collect products and helped unload and stack into the cupboards.
Thank you to Beverley Lee and Peter Maddock for maintaining our social media and BSFG website presence.
A special thank you to Glenys Gill and Sally O’Brien for the many years serving as computer operators and who have both stepped back this year due to personal circumstances. We wish Glenys all the best with her recovery from treatment.
Co-op Committee: Sonia, Christine (rosters), Peter (finance), Rhona (weekly up-dates), Judy (BSFG secretary), Rosalie (cleaning), Tanya and Loren.
Duty managers: Sonia, Tanya, Rosalie, Christine, Rhona, Joy, Robyn, Eleanor, Claire, Jenny Muller, Loren Atkinson (new/returning) and Louisa Marsten (new)
iPad Operators: Peter, Karen, Simon, Stacy, Deanne, Graham, Jenny, Julienne, Maren, Marlies, Tracy and Robert.
Enquires/feedback welcome via the BSFG website or the Co-op email [email protected]
Sonia Bourke
Thursday 28 May 2026
