ROLLESTON is alive and buzzing, and locals are stepping out of their comfort zones and in front of a coffee machine to raise funds for the local park.
The Beazley Park Rest Area is popular with tourists and grey nomads travelling through the town, with the availability of public toilets and a place to stop and recoup.
But locals wanted to see the park bigger and better than ever – and so the Rolleston Coffee Cart in the Park was born.
Alexandra York is one of the driving forces behind the cart, and has the advantage of living right next door to the park.
“We sit on our verandah, and just there are so many tourists who pull up here in winter time, it’s phenomenal,” Alexandra said.
“And then when Bloss had the idea, we have a progress and tourism association and we had this idea of beautifying Beazley (park).”
Alexandra said the cart is making about $300 a day, but the biggest positive to come from it was the chance to show off their town.
“People don’t really see Rolleston. We have a rugby club, the cricket grounds and beautiful horse facilities but you don’t really see them, no one sees it when they pass through,” she said.
“This has been the best thing, to stop people and tell them what a great community it is.
“I suppose with all the local ladies working, they get to see. They’re chatting to the heart of Rolleston – the people.”
More than 20 volunteers help man the cart, and all have taken to making coffees like they have been doing it for years.
“We’ve got regulars like Kay Becker, our publican, who comes every morning with her own cup,” Alexandra said.
“It’s fantastic when you’ve got the local support as well, because they chat with the tourists and ask where they’re going.”
The coffee cart only started on Good Friday, and Alexandra said there was definitely no plans for it to go anywhere – with the winter tourist season kicking off already.