News

Epicentre Op-Shop turns over new leaf

By Jemma Jones

Jun 7, 2026

Echuca’s Epicentre Church Op Shop store manager Sage Wiltshire says she is ready for the store’s next chapter. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

While the address has changed and the shelves and clothes racks are filled with new treasures, the spirit of the Epicentre Church Op-Shop remains the same.

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The shop has made the move across town to the Northern Hwy, Echuca, with hopes a fresh location in a prime position can attract more customers.

The popular store will be reopening to the public at 1/100 Northern Hwy on Saturday, June 12 with complimentary tea and coffee served by special guest Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell.

The store is already accepting donations, with a particular need for furniture and non-perishable foods for the shop’s food pantry.

Manager Sage Wiltshire is hopeful the new location will attract a few more people to the store.

Epicentre Church Op Shop team members Toni Scates, Rebecca Bowles, Tanya Bland, Sage Wiltshire, Janine Johnson, Beth McDonell and Janette Corry. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

“We’ve been looking for another building in a better position coming into town, and this side of town has all the new developments happening,” she said.

Moving across town was a “huge process”, according to Sage, who said staff had been working around the clock to pack up the Ogilvie Ave site while simultaneously setting up the new store.

The hardworking team has been organising countless racks of clothes and shelves of knick-knacks and books in preparation for the reopening.

While the warehouse offers a different atmosphere, Sage said it gave them the opportunity to be even more creative with their decoration — creating rooms within rooms.

She said the kids’ zone was one area to look out for.

“We’ve got some fun things for people to discover, hidden stuff that we’re doing creatively to make a fun space,” she said.

What’s also new is a drive-through donation spot, for customers who have larger items, or would like to drop off their donations more conveniently.

Proceeds of sales from the op-shop stay in the community, with Epicentre giving money away to groups across the region or funnelling funds into the in-house food pantry.

“Sometimes you don't realise how big of an effect it is until you hear people’s stories, and when they come back and tell you how just a small act of kindness has affected them or changed their family,” Sage said.

She said everyone at Epicentre was excited to throw open the doors to a new chapter for the store, and even more enthusiastic to continue giving back to the community.