A week on from the fire that tore apart Windaroo’s shopping strip, people continue to display unity and community spirit.
Fire ravaged Windaroo Shopping Village on Queensland Day in what police have indicated might have been suspiciously lit.
Regardless, the spirit of the community has risen from the ashes, with locals showering affected businesses with support and offers of assistance.
One of the most generous offers came from neighbouring church and charity, Centro Centre, who offered up their kitchen to the Windaroo Village Bakery to use during building restorations.
The owner of Centro Centre, Mark Kujawa, said that as a charity organisation, he felt it was his civic duty to extend a helping hand.
“Our vision, our heart, is to help bring hope to our community, so when our community feels hopeless at times, whatever it may be, that’s who we want to be,” Mr Kujawa said.
Mr Kujawa also said that given the ongoing pandemic, he felt particularly compelled to provide help to the bakery.
“Hospitality has taken the biggest hit as an industry through COVID, businesses just have not recovered at all, so she’s (the owner of the bakery) probably only just getting back on her feet and now she’s got this,” Mr Kujawa said.
“The best thing to do is to be able to reach out and say, look, we know you might be struggling, come on over here, keep going, and when you get your feet up and going again, you can either stay or move on. No problems at all.”
The bakery expressed gratitude via its Facebook page for the support shown by their customers and community.
Other affected business vendors from Saturday’s fire, such as the owner of Windaroo Chempro Craig Lewis, says it is touching to see the loyalty and encouragement shown by the community.
“People come in and give us chocolates. There have been lots of hugs,” Mr Lewis said.
“I come here, and my staff are here and getting stopped in the car park, at Bunnings and supermarkets, everyone’s saying sorry and giving us well wishes. I’ve had people come in and offer to clean up down there.
“It gives you a lot of faith. It’s really nice to see. The response and the emotion that’s come from them is really heart-warming.”
Mr Lewis is currently providing pharmacy services from the Mt Warren Park Chempro on Mt Warren Boulevard. The Doctors @ Windaroo now operate at the Doctors @ Beenleigh on George Street, and TSG Windaroo News run out of TSG Mt Warren News.
As investigations into the fire continue detectives are appealing for anyone travelling around Mt Warren and Windaroo between 9.30pm and 11.30pm with dash cam footage to contact police.
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