OVER R10 000 was raised for Blackdog
Studios, the photographic studio that burnt down in the Barmooda
blaze recently, as Observatory’s business community opened up its
heart to one of the most hard-hit by the fire.
The fundraiser was held for Blackdog’s
owner Sally Mellish, who lost R300 000’s worth of equipment when
the controversial nightclub burnt down in mysterious circumstances.
Sally’s studio was on the storey above Barmooda.
“I've never
come across a more kinder community...complete strangers making an
effort for someone they didn't even know,” said Sally.
The Business Development Committee of
the Observatory Improvement District (Obsid) organised the
fundraiser, with Trenchtown restaurant in Station Road providing the
venue for free, Matt Loots from Lotus Media the sound engineering,
and time and sweat from Mel du Toit and Kaitlyn Rogers of Bohemian
Lofts Backpackers, as well as Kim Whitaker and Jessica Payne of 33
South Boutique Backpackers. Many raffle prizes were sponsored.
Sally says that
Trenchtown was packed - a complete full house of supporters. She says
that Obs community is a closely knitted community and “it's one of
my compelling reasons to come back to Obs,” she said.
Sally is
re-opening her studio in Howe Street on 5 August, and jokes that with
the fundraising money “I (Sally) can pay my deposit (for the
studio)”.
Another hard hit
business is Mnandi Textiles, next door to the gutted Barmooda. Mnandi
Textiles has existed in Obs since 1991 before moving to its present
location in 1994.
The blaze damaged most of the
merchandise and left Mnandi Textiles unable to operate for a full
five weeks, said Mnandi owner Ilse Oberholster.
The business is insured, and they are
slowly but surely regaining material. Ilse says that over the years
she collected fabric that can’t be replaced and that too has been
damaged.
She is upset about Barmooda, and says
that it's not the first time that something bad has happened to her
business due to Barmooda. The first time was when gangster Ricky
Oaker was shot in front of her shop in 2008 when he was offloading
equipment for Barmooda. Ilse says the bullet travelled right through
the glass and into the fabric.
Ilse can't even
explain the way she is feeling. The shop might not have been burnt
down, but the smoke caused a lot of damage.
Ilse said that
the insurance is not sure if her goods are salvageable, and whether
“the value of it, will be more than the salvaging”.
The shop has been
repainted and she is hoping to open soon.
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