The Uniting Church on the corner of Woodlark and Keen Street is still fenced and wrapped, showing that it is still under construction. Construction began four months after the February 28, 2022, flood, so it has been a substantial rebuild.

What most of Lismore doesn't know is that the Red Dove Centre, facing Keen Street opposite Mary G's, is open for business once again. That means the Red Dove Cafe is waiting for customers, as is the Op Shop and the rebuilt office space upstairs can be hired once again.

Lismore Regional Uniting Church Treasurer Alan Hoskins told the Lismore App the church itself will not be reopen until Christmas.

"It was opened in 1908, so it's very old. The whole building is heritage listed, so the rebuild has to be done according to those regulations and requirements. Even the front brick fence surround is heritage listed and has to be replaced exactly the way it was and those bricks are a bit hard to get. They are coming from Victoria. The floor had to come out, so it is down to bare earth."

"We've submitted the DA to council and we're waiting on a response from them."

Alan said he is extremely pleased to be back in the building next to the Uniting Church as pre-flood life returns.

"We've reopened our offices, so we are operating out of here now. The Op Shop's open, and the cafe is open."

(Alan Hoskins in the upstairs space that can be rented out with three separate rooms at the back)

"We rent this large upstairs out to groups. We've got exercise groups, dance groups, all sorts of groups that come and use the facilities both upstairs and downstairs. We have three meeting rooms to rent at only $15 an hour with tea and coffee-making facilities."

Disabled access for the downstairs area is complete; however, the lift needed for the upstairs area is on a boat from Italy.

(Downstairs is the temporary Uniting Church used on Sundays at 9am)

"Once that gets here, we will be having church up here. At the moment, we are having church downstairs," Alan said, "Sundays at 9am, everyone is welcome."

Elisha, Linda and Tracy are the faces to greet you at the Red Dove Cafe.

They are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 2:30pm. The kitchen stops cooking meals at 2pm.

Marie and the team are working in the Op Shop 9am to 3pm weekdays. They stock books, kitchen items and bric-a-brac.

Both venues are cash only currently as the EFTPOS machines have not arrived but this should happen next week.

Another huge plus for the Uniting Church reopening is the return of their home delivery meals for people that are not mobile or have a disability.

"We did our first deliveries this week. The meals come in nice packs, and for older people, a pack would do them for two meals. People just have to ring up, order a meal and we will deliver them."

"In about a month's time, we will be able to restart our welfare packages that we get through Foodbank. We buy them, and then we give them out to people who really need it."

"If people are short of food, they can come in and get a package when we get going."

The funds needed for the home meal deliveries and the welfare packages are generated through the Red Dove Cafe and the Op Shop, so pop in today or next week for breakfast or lunch, then visit the Op Shop next door.

The Uniting Church also has a paid part-time Clerical position. You would work 25 hours a week, five day's a week from 9am to 3pm with an hour off for lunch. Ideal for a parent with school-age children. You need good people, typing and computer skills.

To apply, email [email protected], call (02) 6621 5801 or pop into the office between 9am and 3pm with the entrance off Keen Street, to the left of the red sign and walk upstairs.