Flourish Magazine - Winter 2024

A CUPPA AND FRIENDSHIP CAN CHANGE A LIFE

With its blue and white theme, Taperoo Community Centre’s cheery Café Des Amites – Café of Friendship – opens its doors each Tuesday from 10am –11.30am.

For the cost of a gold coin donation, café visitors can enjoy a hot cuppa, cake and the opportunity to catch up with old friends – or, better still, make new ones.

NDIS participants… can be very isolated, but we love to come (here) and everyone is very accepting of one another’s differences.

- STACEY

Dee is one of those who has done both, thanks to the Centre and regular attendance at the café.

“This whole place has such a lovely, homely feel,” she says.

“I moved to this side of town recently and really didn’t know anyone.

“I became very isolated and really fell into a slump. I came here and was shown such kindness – it really feels like a second home. It’s changed my life.”

NDIS carer, Stacey, says the café and the Centre are a destination in themselves.

Centre Coordinator, Kathy Miller, agrees and says everyone pitches in to help out.

“We sourced a lot of the café furniture and old china from an op-shop and we did the old dresser up ourselves,” she says. “It gives everyone a sense of involvement.”