1. Out of The Closet Drought Store
A continuing project of the Women’s Lounge Group from the highly successful ‘Out of the
Closet’ sale held at Cooinda, October 2006.
Update December 2006

2. The aim of the Nhill Drought
Store is twofold a) putting
money back into the commu-
nity through sales of consign-
ment clothing; b) sales of do-
nated clothing and commis-
sion from consignment stock
going directly to the Social
Work departments Emergency
Relief Fund.
The Drought Store provides a
low profile point of contact for
those in the community who
may require welfare assis-
tance and also provides a
high profile proactive commu-
nity response for the WWHS.
Manager’s Report
October
$250 Banked to Emergency Relief Fund
November:
$500 Consignment Net sales
$250 Banked to Emergency Relief Fund
$32 furniture sales for WWHS fundraising effort
• The store is clothing based for fundraising.
• Drought, Welfare and other services will be highlighted using and ISSUES based system
of referral. Issues will be used to provide tangible links to services. This information sys-
tem will be a key feature of the store and will be prominent, accessible and highly visible.
West Wimmera Health Service is recognised as the umbrella organisation auspicing
Women’s Lounge. Health promotion funding is potentially able to be utilised for both the
Welfare and Social Workers in the further development and establishment of the store in
sourcing volunteers, support, training, information and referral advice.
As part of our commitment in engaging with WWHS we have an obligation to provide cop-
ies of all grant applications we may seek under the Not For Profit status of the WWHS.
We envisage formal launch of the Nhill Drought Store on March 8th 2007, utilising the high
profile built up from the 2006 Nhill International Women’s Day Festival.
Anecdotal evidence from a survey conducted shows pricing, range and the social aspect
of the store to be key factors influencing consumers in their patronage. Many customers

3. are repeat and come back week after week. Some customers have expressed interest in
volunteering which will be followed up in 2007.
There have been no negative responses to the survey or store from customers or general
public that has come to our attention.
A sidewalk display permit has been submitted to Hindmarsh Council with supporting letters
from the Social and Welfare Workers supporting a request for fees to be waived as in-kind
support for the store from the Shire.
The Challenge of 2007
There are many issues facing the store in 2007. It is an old building with no facilities, it is
in poor condition and has an unattractive internal and exterior visage.
Whether the drought breaks or not, financially Nhill and surrounding districts will continue
to suffer the effects for the next 18 months or more.
Some key areas / issues have been identified:
• A change room needs to be built to secure a room for staff and volunteers as currently
the only way for customers to try clothing on is by coming into the area designated as an
‘office.’ This means that whenever a customer is trying on clothes the office area is out
of reach of staff and volunteers and customers cannot be served until the room is va-
cated.
• Existing wooden framework from previous occupants needs to be removed to create
more space and to allow for walls to be used as part of the information referral issue
based system.
• Portable display boards are required.
• The building requires internal painting and preparation.
The Drought Store requires the following:
1. Maintenance staff for a couple of days after January through to the end of February to
assist in the removal of existing unusable framing within the shop and to assist in the build-
ing of a simple change room.
Potential for 2007 and further
With the WWHS needing to raise funds the Drought Store can be a small part of this proc-
ess by selling excess items such as furniture. Already the store has been able to raise an
amount of $32 towards this. Further collaborative efforts are possible.
International Women’s Day Festival

4. Other community based activities to encourage social interaction.
Expanded services on offer, potential for other initiatives to flow out of this project.
Wimmera Volunteers will be a key partner.
Grants will be sought to train volunteers in retail upskilling.
Grants will be sought for a variety of purposes not yet identified.
Partners present and potential
West Wimmera Health Service
Allied Health Departments, Social and Community
Hindmarsh Shire
Wimmera Volunteers
Women’s Lounge
Key Thanks
Without the key support of the West Wimmera Health Service, the staff and management
of Cooinda Disability Services and the women of Women’s Lounge this project would not
have eventuated. We would like to take this opportunity to thank West Wimmera Health
Service for their unflagging support of initiatives to engage and support the community.
A key supporter of this project has been Mr Don and Len Mulhallen, who have given us
their full support for this project by allowing the Drought Store to become a reality through
their generous ‘rent free’ offer of the premises in which we now reside.
Lisa Mostyn
Project / Store Manager