Pictured at the opening of the Cells Café in Bairnsdale today are from left: Noweyung CEO Ernie Metcalf, Shadow Minister for Small Business Neale Burgess, Mayor Peter Neal, Café manager Terri Reggardo and Noweyung chairman Chris Dean and East Gippsland Shire CEO, Gary Gaffney.

State Member for Gippsland East and Shadow Minister for Disability, Tim Bull, today officially opened Cells Café in the old police station, corner of Pyke and Nicholson Streets, Bairnsdale, which will open to the public on April 23.

“This is a great day to see this come to fruition and I am delighted the previous State Government contributed $350,000 to the enterprise, which will be run by Noweyung and includes a community meeting room and offices for visiting specialists, therapists and advocates.

“There is also a dedicated kitchen area where the Banksia Fine Foods arm of Noweyung that manufactures a range of award winning jams, sauces, pickles and chutneys can operate.

“This all came about when I went to Noweyung with an idea for the site back in 2011 and we sat down and explored it in further detail. To see it come to fruition today is fantastic,” Tim said.

“I thank the East Gippsland Shire Council for its great assistance with the project, Noweyung CEO Ernie Metcalf, the Noweyung Board, Jim McSweeney for his great design, Brooker Builders for the amazing job they did and the many other individuals and groups that contributed.

“There were a lot of hurdles to overcome with this project and to work with Noweyung, the shire, the architect and the builder to arrive at what we have here today is noteworthy.

“I am sure this will provide terrific employment opportunities over many years for those in the community with special needs and I very much look forward to it opening to the public on April 23,” Tim said.

Shadow Minister for Small Business, Neale Burgess, who attended the opening, said it was the best facility of its kind he had seen and said it will be a great asset to East Gippsland.

“It really has come up well and to see this sort of enterprise unveiled and knowing it will provide employment opportunities for those with a disability is heart-warming and a great outcome,” he said.