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NEW BEGINNINGS AT
EXPERIENCE CAFÉ
The Experience Café is a not-for-profit community café that
exists to serve and support the local community and help break
the poverty cycle.
In late 2013 Ruthmary Bond started Experience Café on Hutt
Street in the city.The idea was to give those who had found
themselves in the ‘no experience – no work’ catch 22 the
opportunity to work in a real café. Since then many have been
helped by this much needed local work experience including
new immigrants, refugees and students.The volunteers at
the Experience café not only gain valuable coffee making and
general café skills but are helped by boosting their confidence
being in a positive and affirming environment.
Ruthmary opened the second Experience Café at 5 Clifton
Street Blair Athol in 2016 and on 11 March this year the new
café was abuzz with people, music, food and activities as they
celebrated their first birthday.The celebration was also a
re-launch as the cafe was handed over to a new
manager/operator.
The new manager, Sophie Langley is also an artist and is keen
to give plenty of opportunity for creative expression in the café
community. Regular art exhibitions are one of the new features
and also a vibrant art group on Friday morning called Creative
Connections. Other new activities include a Friday morning
English conversation group with Belinda, a friendly and skilled
ESL teacher; also a multicultural women’s support group and
even a ‘singing bowls’ practitioner has been coming in with
some good vibrations onWednesdays!
There is a delightful community garden behind the cafe and
Jenny, who heads up a group meetingWednesday mornings, is
excited to be implementing a new permaculture design.The
café's manager, Sophie, is coordinating with Jen in the garden
and Briony in the op shop (also on the property) to create a
thriving community hub.
The café is openWednesday to Saturday 10am – 3pm so make
some time to come check out this innovative and exciting
community endeavor, Sophie and the staff would be very
pleased to see you and you can sample some yummy fresh
homemade lunches and cakes – and of course fantastic coffee!
PORT REDEVELOPMENT
CONSULTATION REPORT
Over 330 people attended the recent Port AdelaideWaterfront
Redevelopment Community Engagement Open Day to learn
about and comment on the progress of the next stages of Port
Adelaide’s rejuvenation.
The atmosphere at the Open Day was positive with
considerable overall support for the redevelopment. Many
participants were keen to see the progress and a continuation
of housing development in Port Adelaide.
The community's responses about their vision of more people
living, working, investing and spending time in the Port included
arts, festivals, open space, markets and museums, with an
emphasis on preserving and recognising the Port's character
and its community.
You can read the full report on the Our Port website.
PLACEMAKING
A City where people love to be
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS •WINTER 2017 PAGE
Paper making classes held at Experience Cafe