The Co-op Comes of Age
by Al Tudorin

Twenty-one years ago in late 1979, the Maple Street Co-op had its beginnings when a number of people, oriented towards an alternative and healthier lifestyle, decided they were fed up with not being able to obtain organic and whole foods from the local supermarket and having to travel a 70-kilometre round trip to Nambour to do their fruit and vegie shopping.

In the words of founding member Jill Jordan: "Half a dozen of us met one night at John Gilpin's house in Frog's Hollow to discuss what we could do to improve our situation. John, Meg Kelly, Matthew Davies, Lorna Wilson, Gary Blisner, Julie Newey and I discussed the pros and cons of a more formalised 'bulk buying' set-up, and Lorna, who had recently arrived from the USA, talked about her experience in being a member of a food cooperative in California. The concept excited us greatly; not only could we get the health food we wanted for ourselves, but we could encourage others to use it too."

Following the inaugural meeting on 30 November 1979, which was attended by 39 people, the Co-op was registered with the Department of Corporate Affairs on 19 December. The main aim at that time was to mimic the "old style" rural cooperative and encourage networking with people of similar values. Bill Kidston, secretary of the Cooperative Federation of Queensland, gave invaluable assistance, including details of the legal framework and model rules, and was inspiration to the group's "green" participants. To satisfy the legal requirements, an informal "needs survey" had to be produced to show evidence of support for proceeding with the formation of the Co-op. Next, there had to be an enlistment of members and suppliers, and premises had to be found for the new cooperative.

At the time of the shop's start-up, which pre-dated local council involvement in such matters, the Qld Department of Health set the conditions with which the Co-op had to comply, particularly as our premises would be handling food. These included rather strict guidelines on everything from floor coverings and toilets to the washing-up area.

The Co-op began trading at 48 Maple Street on 14 January 1980. By then, more than 100 people had bought $25 shares, and within nine months the Co-op had to move to larger premises across the road at 37 Maple Street – our current premises, but a smaller area.

With the extreme lack of start-up capital, it was not possible to pay wages to any of the people who worked at the Co-op, even though one of the main objectives was to create local employment. It was difficult to maintain continuity in the shop during much of the start-up period, and it wasn't until a year after we opened our doors that the Co-op could pay wages – a princely sum of $20 per day, which is all relative when you consider that the first year's insurance premium was $66!

The Maple Street Co-operative has changed a lot since those initial hiccups; and although it has had its ups and downs through the first 21 years, it has managed to grow and go from strength to strength, making food, products and services of high quality available at a reasonable price to members and the local community and supporting local suppliers and producers.

The Co-op stocks foods and products that promote a healthy lifestyle and which are created according to the principles of organic production, social ethics and environmental sensitivity. It also subscribes to cooperative principles which include education, not only of its members but also the greater community. The Co-op recognises it has a social responsibility which, together with principles of accountability and disclosure, goes towards having a stronger presence in the community for the benefit of all.

[From "Maple Street Co-op News", December 2000/January 2001; published by The Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd, 37 Maple Street, Maleny, Qld 4552, Australia, tel (07) 5494 2088, email maplest.co-op@serv.net.au, website http://www.maplestreetco-op.com.au]