maple street co-op

Editorial by Ruth Parnell
From "Maple Street Co-op News", Aug/Sep 2006

The Co-op management is having an interesting time getting used to now being in charge of a licensed co-operative club with an expanded membership. That a couple of directors are teetotallers goes to show how much the Board wants the Club to succeed in its renewed guise as the hub of co-operative social interaction in the midst of Maleny. I should add that the Club and Co-op encourage responsible drinking – whether of alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea or the organic soft drinks and juices on offer.

In this first edition since the renovations, I wanted to provide some feedback so far. Everyone has a story, but I'm only able to reproduce snippets here from a few regular patrons, staff members and directors. I'm delighted to say that responses have been overwhelmingly positive, as you'll see from the reports herein.

Space doesn't permit my touching on all the issues I'd like to; it's an editor's lament. However, anyone who’s been following the news will know that we have a water crisis on our hands in SEQ and that this issue is going to capture our attention from now till at least the March 2008 local government elections when we're probably going to have to vote on allowing recycled water into our dwindling dams (Baroon Pocket Dam being quite okay, thank you very much, due to the good rainfall on the Range). There's also the nuclear issue: since my report last edition, the Howard Federal Government has decided to reopen the "debate" and the ALP may renege on its "three mines" policy. Where to next? Keep informed, but be wary of polls suggesting that this track is inevitable.

Until next time, and a few Club distractions later...

Ruth

[From "Maple Street Co-op News", August/September 2006; 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]