Monday night was a chance to officially open the big, new back deck at Monty’s Place but also to farewell a couple of hard-working volunteers.
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Monty’s Place located behind the Narooma Uniting Church offers free meals every Wednesday and also a chance for people to make friends and find out about local services.
The meals have been so popular that now retired parish minister David Oliphant said extra space was needed out the back so Monty’s Cafe paid for the expansion from donations.
Volunteer wood workers Dave Swilks, Smilie Magill and Graham Brown worked with local builder Trevor Van Soest to have the deck completed in less than two weeks. The deck measures 7-by-6 metres and was constructed out of merbau wood and treated pine. Several large wooden tables are also set out on the deck.
Monday night was also a chance to farewell Ted and Patt Jensen, who have volunteered at Monty’s Place for the past 18 months while they were living in Narooma on a mission with the Mormon Church.
Ted and Patt are now going back home to the small town of Pingree, Idaho in the United States, and area known for being the potato-growing county capital of the world.
“We have absolutely loved it and we are going to miss the people and our new family at Monty’s Place that have made our stay here so special,” Ted said.
Patt said; “I would totally live here if my family was here.”
The couple will be missed particularly by chef Gerd Tiedt, who valued their hard work.
“I’ve never worked with anyone like that,” he said. “You ring them up five minutes before you need them and say can you help with the washing up or something like that, and it was never too much for them.”
The couple and the rest of the volunteers on Monday nights exchanged gift including monogrammed aprons of course Vegemite and pavlova mix to take back with them to the United States. They pledged to come back for a visit one day.
