Sustainable Braidwood

14/05/2026

Braidwood has always been a town of stories — not just the ones on the shelves, but the ones lived, shared, and passed between people.

Our latest profile celebrates the history of the Braidwood Library, from its beginnings in 1858 as a small subscription collection, to the vibrant, community-focused space it is today.

Holiday programs and craft days, hand-delivered books during lockdown, Story Time and STEAM activities, tech help and co-working spaces that are free for the community to book - our library has quietly adapted to meet the needs of its community for over 160 years.

Read the full profile below:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/library

Librarian Kirsten Hulse shares what she loves about the Braidwood Library. Q & A

07/05/2026

When Marilyn Carle moved to Braidwood, the first thing she did was join St Andrews Uniting Church. From there, it was a short step into the ‘Wednesday’ op shop, which has been running for over forty years - first as a tiny shopfront next to the supermarket, now occupying two spacious sheds in the St Andrews grounds.

The Wednesday op shop has no overheads, no paid staff, and no sales targets, allowing its volunteers to keep costs down. From full bags of clothing for $10, to bedlinen, curtains, sewing supplies, books, homewares, and toys, the op shop is an 'Aladdin’s cave' – and so long as Marilyn is there, it’s going to remain that way.

"We might make $10,000 in a year, and we give to local charities, the local schools, the Braidwood Life Centre, and the Education Foundation. And then we give to Flying Doctor. Fred Hollows’ Exodus Foundation, which is with Wayside Chapel, where our minister Graham comes from. Catherine Hamlin, with her Fistula Foundation, is another one, and Frontier Services. The Lions Club here takes all the sunglasses and cases, and they send them to a prison in Queensland, who repair them and send them to the islands. And we used to collect bras, especially for cancer patients, which went to people in Fiji."

Read more about the little shop that could, or show some love to Marilyn in the comments below:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/church

A longtime volunteer at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Marilyn Carle talks about the beauty of the ‘Wednesday’ op shop, its deliberately low-key feel, and the relief of finally getting a second shed. Q & A

16/04/2026

Know a Local Legend that deserves to be celebrated?

Help us get to know the people making a difference in town and nominate a champion of sustainability, collaboration or community care for a SB Communtiy Profile.

Tag a Legend in the comments or submit via the link below:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/home

09/04/2026

Many brains are better than one! Who's got a challenge they can't seem to solve?

Post your head-scratcher in the comments below, and let's put our Sustainable Braidwood Brains Trust to work, for some good old community problem-solving.

You can also peruse our online Skills Library, where listed members are available to talk to or demonstrate the things they’re passionate about, and share their wealth of knowledge about their expertise - from animal welfare and land management, to IT literacy and graphic design:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/skills