General News
6 June, 2024
Little Acorn officially reopens
THE long-term future of the Little Acorn Café has been secured after a $450,000 renovation was officially unveiled last week.
Café operator Cooinda hosted an official opening of the refurbished café last Wednesday to usher in a new era for the building. which has doubled in operational size.
The renovations included the expansion of an indoor dining area and a new deck offering a scenic view over the Terang dry lake for patrons to enjoy.
In addition, the installation of a commercial kitchen has allowed for an expansion of the menu, lengthened opening hours and an increased number of participants allowed to take part in the hospitality program.
Cooinda chief executive officer Janice Harris said the renovations had been a “fabulous” improvement for all involved.
“It has exceeded all our expectations,” she said.
“It’s really popular, especially on the weekend.
“Everyone is loving having somewhere in Terang to go for breakfast on the weekends, so we’ve found.”
At the heart of the renovation was improving the opportunities for Cooinda participants, promoting public interaction with mainstream roles for those in the community living with a disability.
Since Cooinda opened the Little Acorn in 2016, the café has been a positive space for those living with a disability to immerse themselves in the hospitality industry, learning skills through their responsibilities in customer service, food handling and preparation which heightens independence and self-esteem.
Ms Harris said feedback from participants had been glowing.
“They love it,” she said.
“Prior to this we did all our cooking at the commercial kitchen at Cooinda and would bring the food down here, but now we can cook to order which has allowed us to expand the breakfast items including bacon and eggs and pancakes.
“They’re really enjoying it.”
Mrs Harris thanked Corangamite Shire Council for its support in bringing the redevelopment to fruition.
Council had allocated $100,000 to support the redevelopment and in November 2023 had also extended the lease of the Little Acorn Café for a 21-year period.
This lease agreement included a five-year lease-free period at a cost of $56,000 to council.
Corangamite Shire deputy mayor Cr Laurie Hickey said council was proud to support the future of a “fantastic community facility”.
“This is used in such a way the whole community can benefit now,” he said.
“The community can have a coffee shop open right through the weekend, which provides an enormous amount of activity for the participants who learn skills which can be transferred to any other position they go to.
“As a council, we were delighted to be able to contribute funding to the project, which has meant the facility has been rejuvenated to be an even more wonderful place.”
Cr Hickey said the Little Acorn Café ticked all the boxes in its ability to have a widespread impact on the town and wider shire.
“We love to support these sorts of programs which give back to the community,” he said.
“This facility being on the main highway through Terang is a great position for people to be able to stop.
“It’s a real asset to the Terang and district community.
“When you consider the advantage of the café being open the hours it is for the community and that it serves the participants to come and learn skills, it is a win for everybody.”
