November 25th, 2022Service with a smile …
The hand-written blackboard menu of Daylesford’s 5000 Club reads like an
upmarket cafe.
There’s soup, a meat and a vegetarian main with a choice of vegies
or salad and an array of tempting desserts. The dining room buzzes with the sound
of clinking cutlery and friendly conversation accompanied by pleasant background
music. The only difference is, there’s no bill to pay at the end.
The 5000 Club was founded in 2011 by local community dynamo Loretta Little
and provides a free three-course meal every Friday from 12 noon to 1pm. It takes its
name from the biblical story of the loaves and the fishes (feeding the 5000).
Volunteer Sandy Breen says the club certainly knows how to make a little go a long way.
“I like to say that we are ‘little and mighty’, which is a play on our founder’s
name. Loretta has been the driving force. Before moving to Daylesford she had been
involved with the Sacred Heart Mission in Melbourne and she saw a similar need
when she moved here.
Daylesford is seen as an affluent area but there are people here
doing it tough and she was determined to make a difference by starting the lunch
club.”
Each week up to a dozen dedicated volunteers gather at the Victoria Park Pavilion
to prepare meals for around 30 guests. While some of the ‘vollies’ peel, chop and stir,
others spread colourful tablecloths and arrange vases of flowers to adorn the tables.
Sandy said the group was also fortunate to have the services of a professional chef
and the guests were very grateful for her delicious offerings.
Sandy uses her own skills as a graphic designer to write up the weekly menu board
and together with several other volunteers, they create wonderful desserts each week.
The atmosphere is very bright and welcoming so it feels just like going to lunch at a
lovely cafe.
“All our guests are provided with name tags to make it easier to get to know the
volunteers and each other. It is as much about developing friendships as providing a
hearty meal. Several of our guests have commented that after a 5000 Club lunch, they
only need a snack for their evening meal,” Sandy said.
The club does not have a permanent source of income but relies on occasional
community grants provided by the likes of the Community Bank Daylesford
District (Bendigo Bank), the Hepburn Shire Council and Daylesford Rotary.
Other fundraising activities include the meat tray raffle at the Farmers Arms Hotel
Daylesford and other such initiatives.
“We are also supported by several local businesses and we cannot thank them
enough for their generosity. They include Wombat Hill Florists, Bakers Delight, The
Daylesford Meat Company, The Local, Daylesford & Hepburn Mineral Springs Co,
Coles Daylesford and Second Bite.
In addition, our guests make donations when they can. It is not compulsory but they might donate $5 or $10 or whatever they can
afford because they are very appreciative of our efforts,” Sandy said.
Regular Friday lunch-goer Jean Marc is glowing in his appraisal of the club. He
moved to Daylesford two years ago during the Covid lockdown period which limited
the places he could go to meet new people.
The 5000 Club re-opened in February this year after a two year recess due to the
lockdowns. Jean Marc became aware of it through a friend and came along expecting
a ‘soup kitchen’ style operation.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” he said. “Not only by the quality of the food and the amazing service, but I was also able to meet new friends and re-connect with some old ones. Meeting for lunch at the 5000 Club each week has become an important part of my life from a community aspect. And I am
sure I speak for many other attendees when I say we are always made to feel welcome
and included and none of it would be possible without the fabulous volunteers. They
are the heartbeat of the club and it simply could not operate without them…and their
smiles are for free!”
“As we near the end of 2022 (in many ways, good riddance) the club is preparing
for our traditional Christmas Lunch on December 16. We will then take a festive
season break and will resume again late in January 2023,” Sandy said.
“We welcome new volunteers. If you are interested we’d love to hear from you. Contact Loretta Little on 0439 364 857.”
For more information follow the 5000 Club on Facebook.
