One good turn deserves another

Volunteers and customers at Horsham’s Opportunity Shop can feel a little safer when they visit the charity shop after a generous donation from a Ballarat business owner.

JWR Accounting and Advisory Services owner Joel Radlof presented Opportunity Shop manager Dianne Lewis with a $1000 donation recently to purchase a defibrillator for the shop.

Mrs Lewis who was awarded Horsham Citizen of the Year in 2023, said she believed every business should have a defibrillator on hand.

“We are very grateful to Joel and his business for providing this money,” Mrs Lewis said.

“This shop is governed by the Wimmera Base Hospital Ladies Auxiliary to raise funds for vital equipment at Grampians Health’s Horsham campus,” she said.

“We have 25 volunteers working various shifts in the shop and in the past financial year, we raised $110,000.

“While we rely completely on community support through donating items and buying them, it is really nice to have someone think of our volunteers and do something for us. It feels like a favour has been returned.”

Mrs Lewis said the charity shop also provided clothes to victims of the Natimuk fires earlier this year.

Mr Radlof said while his business was Ballarat-based he had a growing list of clients in the Wimmera region and especially Horsham. Every year he donates five percent of the business earnings to charity.

“I wanted to show my appreciation for the work I have gained from the region so I started looking at possible local charities I could support,” Mr Radlof said.

“The Opportunity Shop really stood out for me and I am really impressed with what they are able to achieve for their community and their hospital.”