The Op Shop was recently gutted by fire, but the volunteers have clawed their way back from the ashes to keep supporting the community.

Parade was speaking to the volunteers recently and realised how hard it has been for them to keep the shop going as many members of the community are unaware that it is operational again.

The volunteers are using sheds and storage containers to house donated goods and people are welcome to explore these to find what they need.

The more support it has from the community, the more money it will be able to invest in helping out those in need.

Visit the Op Shop on Lions Club Drive to see what they have to offer and how you can help.

WINNER of the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia, Andrey Gugnin, was in Bathurst on Tuesday, hosting a master class with young students followed by a concert at the city’s Memorial and Entertainment Centre.

The concert was part of a 33 stop tour throughout regional Australia, and Andrey, who is based in Moscow, said he really loved his time in the city.

He said he fondly recalls as a teenager back in Russia, playing video games where he had to race around the Mount, and said it was fascinating to see it in the flesh.

He said he couldn’t believe he had the opportunity to go around the Mount while visiting the city, and said it was great to be able to see it after driving around it in video games 15 years ago!

PARADE read with interest an online story about the possibility of Home and Away filming some scenes in a western cliffhanger. She initially thought they might be coming to Dubbo to film, given one the soap’s biggest stars ‘Brax’ hailed from the city.

But on closer inspection, the ‘western location’ was in fact Penrith, so Parade won’t hold her breath.