Community
29 July, 2026
$50,000 donation
TIMBOON Opportunity Shop (TOPS) has made one of its largest donations ever with an incredible $50,000 handed over to support the reopening of the Rodney Grove Aquatic Centre.
As Cobden Timboon Coast Times has previously reported, pool operator Cobdenhealth made the difficult decision to close the indoor pool in late 2025 after structural issues were discovered during routine maintenance.
With Cobdenhealth already facing growing financial challenges following changes to the Aged Care Act, the health care provided was forced to abandon the operation the pool.
Amid already soaring costs which saw the pool operating at a deficit it was estimated around $200,000 would be needed to get the pool up to an acceptable standard to reopen.
This, in turn, saw the creation of Friends of Rodney Grove (FORG) – a small group of volunteers dedicated to raising the funds required to see the pool open.
While announcing the $50,000 donation last Wednesday, TOPS coordinator Brenda Parfett acknowledged she thought the mammoth task of raising all the money would take years.
“Slowly, the amounts each week – with donations from here and there and fundraisers happening – the amount required was building,” she said.
“When we received the letter to donate from the pool committee some months ago, all of our committee had time to think what we could do and how much we could donate.
“In a recent committee meeting, a decision was made to make a big splash of $50,000.
“This is the largest donation we have ever made to one organisation.
“This amount can lift everyone’s spirits, lift their enthusiasm and encourage others to just give a little.”
Mrs Parfett said the donation was a credit to the TOPS volunteers who are all retired but dutifully turn up for their days of work to have some fun, sort their goods and overall have a wonderful social time. “Some of our volunteers have never worked in a shop, and it has been their lifelong dream to work in a shop,” she said.
“They love meeting people, arranging our goods and we have amazing volunteers that have taken on our window display.
“So of course, as volunteers, we get excited when opening a bag or box and we find something exciting – like a leather jacket, a smart hat, jewellery, wet suits, the list goes on.
“Our model Molly is in new outfit every day and is at the front door welcoming customers.”
Despite being a small op shop in a small rural town, the TOPS volunteers are excited to make the donation as people from all over Corangamite Shire were reliant on social, physical and mental benefits the pool brought, as the only indoor heated pool between Warrnambool and Colac.
“Especially the learn to swim program – young children all need to learn to swim.” Mrs. Parfett said.
FORG chair Lesley Brown said members were “absolutely overwhelmed” by the hefty donation.
“It makes the balance at the moment up to just over $100,000 so it just shows that we can do it,” she said.
“We’re very humbled by the generosity of the Timboon Opportunity Shop.”
She was very confident they can make the remaining half of the money with donations now piling in.
“Early last week we had a donation of $5000 dollars from a community member,” Ms Brown said.
“The day before we had $2500 from the Cobden Country Women’s Association and then $50,000 this week.
“These donations just show the community spirit.”