Op shop opens doors | Ipswich News | Local News in Ipswich

Jo-Ann Miller and friends from Goodna Special Shcool open the new McIntyre Centre for Riding op-shop on Queen Street, Goodna.

Photo: Claudia Baxter

GOODNA residents now have the chance to grab a bargain, while also helping disabled children reach their full potential.

The McIntyre Centre Riding for the Disabled celebrated the official opening of their new Goodna op shop located on Queen Street, last Wednesday

Filled to the brim with balloons, the shop was officially opened by Member for Bundamba, Jo-Ann Miller, and was attended by the shop volunteers and students and teachers from Goodna Special School.

About 20 students from Goodna Special School go to the McIntyre Centre in Pinjarra Hills for riding lessons.

Goodna Special School teacher, Sharon Visser, said the riding lessons at the centre provided students with confidence and a chance to improve their motor skills.

“It gives them an opportunity to connect with the community and is a social outing,” she said.

Chris Fraser's autistic son goes to Goodna Special School and goes to lessons at the McIntyre centre, and knowing the good work they do, she has become a volunteer at the op shop.

“He loves his riding,” she said about her son.

“He loves horses, every time he sees one he gets excited.”

There are already well-established McIntyre Centre op shops at Graceville and Oxley.

The thrift shops are important in raising funds for the McIntyre Centre, which holds riding programs for more than 150 disabled children each week.

McIntyre Centre CEO, Denis Keats, said the children who attended only needed to pay a third of the cost, and the rest was fundraised.

Goodna op shop co-ordinator, Tricia Gale, said she put her hand up to volunteer her time when she saw an article in The Satellite.

For the six weeks it has been open, she said it was going well and the shop was showing promise, but they still needed more volunteers.

• If you want to become a volunteer at the Goodna op shop phone 3202 6300.