When former RNH CEO Catherine Morley floated the initiative of creating a cafe, in partnership with Woodbine, to offer clients with disabilities on-the-job training in customer service, barista skills, and food handling, she perhaps could have never envisaged just how much the community would embrace the business, or that it would still be going strong 10 years on.
Happily, that’s exactly what has happened with today marking the YarriYak Cafe’s 10th birthday.
Welcoming around 30 guests to the celebration, Interim RNH CEO Lois O’Callaghan congratulated the cafe team on the anniversary, expressing just how much of an amazing achievement the milestone is, and how very lucky RNH is to have such a thriving business. RNH took on full management of the Cafe in May 2024 and sincerely thanks Woodbine for their ongoing support.
Then-Woodbine CEO and now RNH Project Support Officer Bernie O’Connor said he was “so proud of the cafe” which, coincidentally, was named by his wife Karen during a community competition.
Echoing both Lois and Bernie’s comments, Environmental Services Assistant Rhys Boehm paid tribute to the cafe team, Woodbine, and thanked the community for their ongoing support of the cafe.
Inviting guests to enjoy morning tea catered by Woodbine, RNH celebrated the occasion by giving all cafe visitors free coffee until 12pm.
RNH wishes to thank Woodbine for the delicious morning tea, The Fragrant Rose Florist for the stunning floral arrangement, and Hanna’s Cakes for the beautiful cake.
YarriYak Cafe is open Monday-Friday, 8.30am-3pm and offers a range of yummy food and hot and cold drink options.
Happy birthday, YarriYak Cafe.