Amazing bargains on offer at Busy Fingers Op Shop

Savvy shoppers who love hunting for bargains will find lots of preloved clothing, books, furniture, bric-a-brac and possibly even the kitchen sink when they visit Busy Fingers Op Shop at Bribie Island.

With a warehouse filled to the brim with quality second-hand items, and its very own library, the store is a favourite destination for locals and visitors who are committed to shopping sustainably and giving back to the community.

Busy Fingers Fundraisers Inc president Pauline Hindle says, as a not-for-profit organisation, all money raised from in-store sales is donated to community groups, social clubs, volunteer-run organisations and schools on the island.

“Bribie Island is such a tight-knit community, which is why we try and support as many local groups and other not-for-profit organisations as we can,” Pauline says.

“When you come to shop at Busy Fingers, not only can you fill your basket for less, but you can do so knowing your money is going back to a number of worthy organisations that benefit the lives of Bribie Island residents.

“We have our regular customers who love to come in for a chat and a look around to see what’s new, and then we have the visitors who have come up to Bribie Island for either a day trip or a long weekend.

“When there are events on at Sandstone Point, we always get lots of shoppers who come over because they have been told about all the amazing and unique items we have in store.”

Thanks to the generosity of shoppers, Busy Fingers Fundraisers Inc was able to provide funding to more than 30 community groups and associations in the past financial year, including the Bribie Island SES, Men’s Shed, Police, Scouts, War Widows Legacy, Garden Club, House of Happiness, Amateur Fishing Club and local schools, just to name a few.

Busy Fingers also provides ongoing funds monthly to three very worthy organisations who go above and beyond for locals.

“We support the Bribie Island Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) by paying their fuel bill every month,” Pauline says.

“Living on an island, VMR is an important organisation that needs all the help they can get. VMR is run by volunteers, and since they don’t receive any government assistance, they are worthy of our monthly grants.

“Each month, we also support the Bribie Island Hospice with their palliative care suite fees and Bribie Island Global Care with their Foodbank costs.

“We also provide yearly assistance through entry fees by entering two teams into local fundraising golf days for organisations such as VMR, the Bribie Island Surf Club and BIKES.

“We can give away these grants to the Bribie Island community thanks to the support we receive from residents who donate to us, and those who come to our op shop to pick up a bargain or two. It is because of them we can enhance the quality of life of all island residents.

“The store has gone from strength to strength over the years, and that is due our dedicated store manager who leads the way, and our wonderful volunteers who generously give up their precious time to support us.”

Busy Fingers is at 38 Cotterill Ave, Bongaree, and welcomes donations and support.

The store is open 8.30am-3.30pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-noon on Saturday.

To see more photos, click through the gallery below. 

A brief history

Busy Fingers Fundraisers Inc was inaugurated on March 31, 1981, and as the name suggests, was founded by a group of dedicated people who used their fingers to knit, crochet and bake things to help raise money for the newly planned Sir Charles Adermann Nursing Home at the Church of Christ Retirement Village at Bribie Island.

The total cost of the nursing home building was $842,000, of which $400,000 had to be raised from outside sources.

Busy Fingers started raising money by holding street stalls outside Cornett’s Foodbarn. During its first year, Busy Fingers raised $4000.

Two years later in January 1983, the group moved to the old theatre on the corner of Cotterill and Bestmann avenues, and the theatre became a centre for the sale of donated second-hand goods as well as new items made by members.

A contract for the new retirement building was signed in May 1983 after the community had raised more than $115,000.

The nursing home became operational on August 2, 1984, with 30 beds.

By the end of 1987, Busy Fingers had purchased a total of $115,000 worth of equipment including a truck, bus, water chairs, mattresses, therapy chairs and kitchen items.

In 2001, Church of Christ built a shed for Busy Fingers in Cotterill Ave, where it continues to operate today.

The following year members applied for a Certificate of Incorporation and became known as Busy Fingers Fundraisers Inc.

Since then, Busy Fingers has expanded the number of community groups it helps each year, ensuring money raised stays benefits local residents.