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Issues from 1998
Issues from 1998
 
 
 
 

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A recent history of the Swap Shop

As the Swap Shop nears its 40th anniversary, President Angela Perry revisits its recent development into one of Scotch’s most significant providers of services and support.

WORDS: Ms ANGIE PERRY – SWAP SHOP PRESIDENT Photography: Ms Kathryn Cairney

Rear: Jane Griffiths, Angie Perry & Sandy Fay
Front: Alison Cunningham, Bambi McAuley & Lisa Webber

I well remember my first visit to the Swap Shop in late 1998. My eldest son Angus was due to start at Scotch the following year and word had already spread that the Swap Shop was the place to start the shopping process. Friendly faces greeted us and very useful advice was administered by the experienced mothers who helped us that day. I readily joined up when asked, as I could see that helping at the Swap Shop would be a canny way to access the best clothing on offer! More importantly, the Swap Shop proved to be a great way to meet parents and students from across the year levels.

Back then, Julia Hare was both President and Treasurer of a sprawling committee of about 30 people who processed the clothes for sale on a roster basis, several times a term. The shop itself was manned by a separate group of ‘volunteers’ and was open about 3 to 4 times a term. Many changes had already occurred since the Swap Shop was started by the Scout Ladies’ Committee in 1970. For one, it now had a permanent home at 7a Morrison Street. Secondly, at an unknown time in the 1980s, it had become an independent auxiliary.

I became President in 2001with Julia remaining as Treasurer that year. A member of the outgoing committee, Eleanor Stawell, had suggested it would be a good idea to open the shop every week, so from the start of 2001, we did just that! We set up a roster of about 70 mothers who both processed clothes and ran the shop. We continued to run a Blazer Hire service as well as provide clothing free of charge to exchange students.

As an independent auxiliary, the Swap Shop has developed a policy of donating to areas of the school which either benefit a wide range of boys and/or have difficulty raising funds themselves. Such groups as Scotch at Cowes, the library, the boarders, athletics and water polo have all received donations for equipment to help run their programs. The shop maintains a special fondness for the Scouts, and this year it is helping the Sea Scouts with funds to build their boat. Since 2001 it has assisted those boys identified by the Principal as being in financial need. It also meets the travel and clothing costs of indigenous students at Scotch. In 2006 the Swap Shop became a Fellow of the Scotch Foundation. It donates to causes that Social Services identifies as helping children in the broader community. Recently the shop has forged closer links with Lost Property, with Rhonda Allen and other Swap Shop mothers opening Lost Property before school on Fridays.

The Treasurer’s role was greatly helped by the development of a computer program which linked sales to students’ school accounts. It was no longer necessary to handwrite 400 cheques every year! It took a number of years to settle into this program, and it was for this reason (and the fact that I have had three boys at the school!) that I stayed in the role of President for so long.

Over the past couple of years the auxiliary has put in place a strong committee of 10 to 12 members who each have specific roles. We now have a Vice-President (Lisa Webber) and Junior Vice President (Benice Woolley) so the future of the Swap Shop is well assured.

Next year will be the Swap Shop’s 40th anniversary. I think we should have a party! I would love to hear from people who have been involved with the Swap Shop over the years. If anyone has information, reminiscences or stories about the Swap Shop, please get in touch. I would particularly like to know about why the Swap Shop moved away from the auspices of the Scouts, and when it got its current home.

I can be contacted on 9822 4663 or at: amperry@bigpond.net.au. GS

Updated: Monday 24 June 2013