Benalla Food Co-operative welcomes new co-ordinator, Sonia Bourke

Sonia has volunteered to take on the role following 12 years of dedicated membership.

A long-time supporter of the co-op, Sonia brings a wealth of knowledge about the products offered and a strong understanding of how it operates.

A Benalla food co-op spokesperson said she was an excellent fit for the position.

“In recognition of the important responsibilities involved in her new role, some duties have been shared among other committee members to ensure a collaborative approach and continued success in meeting the co-op’s goals,” the spokesperson said.

“The Benalla Food Co-operative remains committed to enabling members to purchase mainly Australian-produced, non-perishable foods without packaging.

“Supporting local and regional producers whenever possible is a key focus ... along with encouraging the responsible use of the Earth’s resources, reducing packaging and excessive food handling, and supporting Australian growers to cut down on food miles and costs.”

Non-perishable items such as flour, cereals, seeds, rice, sugar, beans, dried fruit and nuts are available in bulk, with an increasing range of organic products offered.

Fair trade organic tea and coffee are also available, and members can purchase any quantity of products they need.

To further reduce waste, members are encouraged to bring their own containers.

The Benalla Food Co-operative will have a stall at the upcoming ‘Creating Community Connections Expo’, which takes place at the showgrounds and adjoining community centre — known locally as ‘the Glasshouse’.

The expo will take place on Friday, February 21 from 3pm to 7pm.

To learn more about the Benalla Food Co-operative, Sonia would love local people to pop by to meet her and the committee.

For anyone who cannot be at the expo, Sonia said interested community members could pop in to the food co-operative at its home in the kindergarten hall at Benalla’s Uniting Church during one of its four monthly open sessions:

“The Benalla Food Co-operative, with Sonia at the helm, looks forward to continuing its mission to promote sustainability and support local food systems, making a positive impact on the Benalla community,” the spokesperson said.