00:00 Gutting a 141-year-old building is no easy task.
00:07 I think we underestimated it. We knew that it was going to be a lot of work, but it is
00:15 literally just being emptied.
00:18 Almost a third of Cumnock residents have committed to breathing new life into an old neighbour.
00:24 And we really want to bring it back to its glory days.
00:27 The Cumnock General Store had been on the market for three years, and locals were getting nervous about its future.
00:34 What's the heart of the town without it? There'd be nothing. No reason for people to stop.
00:40 So it was something that really needed to stay open.
00:43 Sarah Haynes and some other residents issued a call-out and nearly 200 responded,
00:50 pledging at least $1,000 each for store membership.
00:54 Another committee raised a further $100,000.
00:58 I think I can scan these.
01:00 Members can volunteer to work at the store to keep staff costs down.
01:04 It was actually quite a heartfelt experience for a lot of us to see how amazing our community is.
01:11 If we didn't do it, we weren't going to have it. And if the community didn't step up, we wouldn't be here today.
01:17 Even the preschool pitched in.
01:19 The kids couldn't imagine their town without the store.
01:22 They love coming after school to grab an ice block or a hot choccy,
01:26 or we come over and grab baby chinos and things like that throughout the week, so they were so excited.
01:32 The store combines a grocer and post office, and there are plans to include an expanded cafe and event space.
01:39 It's certainly making us feel very proud that we've now got it and it's open and it's onward and upward from here.
01:46 A little town with big ambitions.
01:49 [no dialogue]
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