The months of work that went towards upgrading the Tin Shed will be unveiled at the grand opening on 21 January. Photo: Supplied.
When the simple comfort of a hot meal became an unattainable luxury for those displaced from their homes after Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Bloomfield River communities banded together with a united ambition – to create a public kitchen in the local community hub.
After two grants, fundraising, and plenty of elbow grease, the Bloomfield River District Residents Association (BRDRA) will hold a grand opening of the upgraded Tin Shed on 21 February.
BRDRA secretary Robyn Guedes said she was excited to unveil the months of work that went into the community-centric makeover.
“We’ve put a total kitchen in — fridge, stove, counter, sink, running water — and a new bathroom as well,” she said.
“There was a toilet that looked pretty disgusting, with just bricks and bare cement, and then there was a shower that, again, had a bare cement floor and bricks, and horrible rust stains down the wall where the shower handles were.
“That’s tiled to the top now, beautifully tiled floor, new toilet, new shower fittings — it’s just lovely.”
BRDRA began fundraising for the Tin Shed upgrade at the 2024 Bloomfield Bazaar and, in 2025, the group received a $20,000 grant as part of FRRR’s Rebuilding Futures program, and a $25,000 Vero Young Broker of the Year grant.
Cook Shire Council also replaced windows and wooden shutters in the shed.
“It was used as a disaster hub during the flooding, but there were no kitchen facilities, nothing. It was just a tin shed with a terrible toilet and shower,” Ms Guedes said.
“Now, if we have another disaster, people can go there and cook themselves meals, and it’s all set up as a much nicer community facility.
“It’s also a space that we can hire out for activities and events during the holidays.”
Ms Guedes thanked the volunteers who helped bring the shed together, especially retired builder Mark Zippel, who did the framework for the walls, and builder Patrick Nandy, who was engaged for tiling on the project, but went above and beyond to volunteer his time to install the assembled kitchen joinery.
“He’d come along for a couple of hours of an afternoon after he’d knocked off work, and he’d do a bit of work in the shed, and he put in hours and hours,” she said.
“He’s a really good craftsman, so it’s done to a really nice quality.
“Now, other people are coming on board and volunteers are coming in to do little finishing touches as well.”
Cook Shire Council will use the grand opening to consult Bloomfield residents and ratepayers about the 2026-27 budget, with disaster recovery officers also on hand to engage community and answer questions from 3 pm.
Official celebrations with live music will take place from 5 pm.
