The Garden of Roses Cafe owner Lisa Ramsay holding her Certificate of Appreciaton from the NSW Rural Fire Services.
Following a recent emergency at Canowindra Produce, the narrative quickly shifted from the incident itself to a community-wide mobilisation that underscored the vital role this family-owned enterprise plays in the town’s social and economic infrastructure.
The emergency triggered a coordinated response from fire crews across the Central West. However, the operational success was bolstered significantly by a surge of civilian support. Staff members, and locals alike arrived on-site to assist with logistics.
The logistical support extended beyond the immediate perimeter. The Garden of Roses Cafe owner Lisa Ramsay quickly readied her resources to provide catering for everyone involved in the efforts.
“I had family members and friends helping, and I went down out of concern for the family and the business. I thought the way that I could help was coming down to the cafe and making a load of sandwiches, and I got back down there to hand them all out,” Lisa explains.
Lisa has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciaton from the NSW Rural Fire Services for the donation and catering support to the NSW Rural Fire Service and their members on 23 April, 2026.
For a town that thrives on the reliability of its local suppliers, the incident at Canowindra Produce showed a combined effort by the community to protect an essential service that is fundamental to the town’s identity.