Tag: the nest community

Craft Stall Initiative Strengthens Community Ties in Brendale

Photo Credit: The Nest Community/Facebook

A handmade craft stall event will be held in Brendale this July, led by volunteers from The Nest Community and hosted at the Gladys Mary Studio.

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Event Overview

The Nest Community will hold its next craft stall from 9 to 12 July in Brendale. The stall will take place at The Nest’s Gladys Mary Studio, located next to The Nest Haberdashery at The Sheds, 2A/264 South Pine Road. Operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

handmade craft Brendale
Photo Credit: The Nest Community/Facebook

Visitors can expect a wide range of handmade goods created using donated and reclaimed materials. Items on offer include hand-knitted babywear, crocheted handtowels, colourful cushions, sturdy tote bags, lavender bags, and more. Proceeds from the stall support women’s mentoring and programs run through the Textile Recovery Centre.

Background and Community Roots

The Nest Community began in 2012 as a small Saturday craft group for teenage girls in Fallon Cottage. Founders Roz Fenson and Jodie Behn noticed the therapeutic and social benefits of shared creative work, which led to the formal founding of The Nest Community in 2014.

From 2015 to 2023, the group operated from a heritage home in Everton Park, eventually gaining charity status and broader community support. Donations of textiles, often from deceased estates, shaped the development of The Nest Haberdashery as a social enterprise. By 2023, increased demand led to the group relocating operations to a larger facility in Brendale.

Brendale craft stall
Photo Credit: The Nest Community/Facebook

The new location offers greater accessibility and storage capacity, supporting a higher volume of activity. More than 500 women now access the Brendale site weekly as customers, volunteers, or program participants.

Craft With Purpose

The upcoming craft stall is part of The Nest’s broader mission to support community programs like the Exchange Project, which mentors teenage girls through skill-sharing in a safe and inclusive environment. The event is coordinated by a team of experienced volunteers, many of whom have been involved since the organisation’s earlier days.

The Nest Community
Photo Credit: The Nest Community/Facebook

Future Events

Another craft stall is scheduled to run from 27 to 30 November at the same Brendale location, offering additional opportunities to support the initiative.

What’s Next

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The Nest’s Brendale craft stall continues to serve as a platform for sustainable craft, volunteer collaboration, and funding for social impact programs. It reflects a growing demand for community-driven markets with a purpose beyond commerce.

Published 29-May-2025

Gwen Bell of The Nest Community Recognised for Excellence in Volunteer Management

Gwen Bell, the driving force behind The Nest Community’s volunteer program, was recognised as a finalist for the Queensland Excellence in Volunteer Management Award at the 10th Annual Queensland Volunteering Awards, held at Brisbane City Hall on Friday, 16 May.

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The ceremony celebrated the remarkable efforts of Queensland’s volunteers—those creating change on the front lines and those supporting vital work behind the scenes. The Queensland Excellence in Volunteer Management Award recognises outstanding leadership in coordinating and supporting volunteers, and Gwen’s work with The Nest Community is a powerful example of just that.

Photo credit: The Nest Community/Facebook

Starting as a volunteer herself, Gwen is now the organisation’s Administration Manager, and the driving force behind one of Queensland’s most effective and inclusive volunteer programs. She oversees a team of over 120 volunteers, managing every aspect of the program—recruitment, onboarding, training, rostering, and policy development—with a hands-on approach and a heart for community.

Photo credit: The Nest Community/Facebook

The Nest, located at The Sheds in Brendale, has grown from a home-based initiative to a purpose-built 250-square-metre facility, now welcoming 25,000 visits annually under Gwen’s leadership. She played a pivotal role in coordinating this major transition, while also supporting 60–70 volunteers each week across key community programs including the Haberdashery, Resource Recovery, and Workshops.

Gwen’s management style is grounded in clear communication, continuous learning, and meaningful recognition. Volunteers regularly describe her as a “powerhouse,” a “gem,” and a “consummate professional”—a leader who makes everyone feel valued. From thoughtful monthly newsletters to streamlined systems and an approachable style, Gwen has created a volunteer environment that thrives on connection and purpose.

Currently completing a Certificate IV in Volunteer Program Coordination, Gwen continues to grow her skill set while inspiring those around her. Her contributions have earned high commendation from Volunteering Queensland, positioning The Nest as a model for best-practice volunteer engagement.

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While Cindel Richardson was named this year’s award recipient, and fellow finalist Kathryn Pearson also represents exceptional leadership in volunteer management, Gwen Bell’s impact is undeniable. Her work is not only shaping The Nest’s future—it’s setting a standard for what inclusive, community-driven volunteer coordination can look like.

Through every system she builds and every volunteer she supports, Gwen Bell is helping to weave a stronger, more connected Queensland.

Published 22-May-2025