.png)
4 hours ago
1
If you have travelled along South Australia's Mallee Highway, there is a good chance you have driven past the tiny township of Geranium.
Standing on the sleepy main street, there are remnants of what used to be a vibrant and bustling primary school.
At its peak in 1965, Geranium Primary School had 247 students. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
But beyond the bitumen road and through weathered school gates, a resident is putting smiles on people's faces one clothing rack at a time through her new opportunity shop.
Set to the sound of a crackly Neil Diamond record, local of 40 years Marg Smith has made it her mission to turn sadness into spirit and help Geranium blossom once again.
Crackly vinyl records fill the room with vintage tunes as people rummage through the store. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
School heart and soul of the town
When Geranium Primary School closed its doors three years ago due to dwindling enrolment numbers, it shut a century-old chapter for the region.
What was once a busy country town with one of the state's largest area schools now has a population of just over 80 residents.
By 2022, only seven children attended the primary school. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
Ms Smith said.
"My husband and our five children all went to school here, and I was [working] here when it closed, so it was tough."
There are plans to introduce a cafe and other community facilities to the former school grounds. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
The design and tech room hasn't been used since the early 90s. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
But through the hardships, Ms Smith has reinvigorated the space and turned an old design and tech room into a welcoming place for all.
"The primary school was transferred to the community for $1.10 as an in-kind gesture from the state government … I think the 10 cents was for GST," Ms Smith chuckled.
The local yoga group visits the op shop "kitchen" every Wednesday for a cup of tea and a chat. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
Geranium local and swimming coach Arlette Beelitz volunteers at the store when she can. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
Happy travellers
Since opening its doors just over a month ago, the store has welcomed people from far and wide.
Interstate traveller Annette Swaby stumbled across the store accidentally.
"We were travelling from Murray Bridge back home to Bairnsdale, Victoria when we came across the Geranium Op Shop," she said.
"The people here are so friendly and nice, and it has been so delightful."
Annette Swaby says the op shop has reinvigorated the town. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
Pinnaroo local Rita Francis travelled to Geranium for a special visit.
After chatting with Ms Smith, the two women soon realised they had both grown up in the same village in Papua New Guinea.
Rita Francis lives locally and is grateful there is a new place to visit in town. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
"How's that!" Ms Smith gasped.
"I always used to love going to op shops because you just never knew what you might find, and now here in Geranium, you don't know who's going to walk through the door.
Remnants of the primary school's history still lie within the store. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
All for a good cause
While most of the money raised for the store will go towards facility maintenance and helping grow the community hub, Ms Smith hopes she can also donate funds to causes close to her heart.
she said.
Ms Smith has always dreamt of running an op shop. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
Ms Smith hopes the op shop will continue to lift up the community even as the town's numbers dwindle.
"[The] primary school was once the focal place for Geranium, and now it's coming around full circle," she said.
The same rug Ms Smith had in her classroom now lies on the op shop floor. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)
"I think we're a gem and a treasure.
"We are small and we're getting smaller but just like Dr Seuss says, 'A person's a person, no matter how small' and so I think a community is a community, no matter how small."
