It was only last week on Monday that Junee was hit with a domino of tragedies ending with the beloved SoDance Junee building and Brick Lane Sewing Studio being destroyed by fire. But to those affected, it feels like months. It was a scene many were horrified to witness as many were left stranded financially by the freak accident. The structural fire destroyed Lisgar Street Junee’s Brick Lane Sewing Studio, the childhood dream and business of sisters Megan Callow and Nicole Jackson. With the entire stock, equipment and interior destroyed or damaged. They plan to rebuild and appreciate any support offered.
But even in the darkest of times, a community like Junee offers a light of hope. Council has offered So Dance a space free of charge at the Athenium Theatre and many have donated to help rebuild.
Shannon Oke of So Dance Junee said, “they say that it is in the toughest of times that you see the best in humanity…. I was given a front row seat to that.
“There are many people I would like to thank and I apologise in advance if I have accidentally missed someone.
“To the first responders (including firefighters, police, paramedics) thank you.You work tirelessly to defend and protect our community, often without a great deal of gratitude or recognition. I am very grateful for everyone who assisted yesterday. Thank you.
“To the local business community who offered your support, thank you. The distribution of face masks, water, food etc, was greatly appreciated. Your kind words and actions did not go unnoticed. Thank you.
“To the local community groups who have kindly offered your support, thank you.
“To the ever supportive So Dance family thank you. This was not the start of the year I had planned. Certainly not the pictures of your beautiful space I had planned for social media on our tenth dance season.
“Thank you also to everyone in the Junee community who has sent messages of support. Your compassionate words, supportive actions and community spirit is greatly appreciated. To my family who were by my side through it all – thank you.
“We are working in the background to get classes underway as soon as practical and possible.”
Two GoFundMe pages have been set up to get both So Dance and Brick Lane Studio back on their feet.
Elissa Drew organised the firstfundraiser. The page reads, “sending the ‘cooee’ out to lend a helping hand to the incredibly loved Oke family who lost their dance studio yesterday morning due to fire. Miss Shannon has been an absolute inspiration to our little ones for years, teaching them the power of dance and allowing them to express themselves in a beautifully kind, safe space at So Dance Junee.
“The Oke family worked extremely hard to renovate the beautiful old theatre in Lisgar Street, bringing her beauty to life again. As well as this, the walls of the theatre were exposed once again to the sound of music and echo’s of children’s laughter as she would have heard so many years ago.
“I hope this fundraiser will be able to reflect just a tiny speck of our love and appreciation we feel for the magic of dance Miss Shannon has worked so hard to create for our children. There is nothing like a country community to lend the hand we need! No donation is too small as every dollar counts towards keeping the magic moving at SoDance Junee.”
So far, $4,200 has been raised of the $8,000 target, over 50 percent. You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-the-magic-moving-at-so-dance-junee
Junee Business and Trades have also set up a fundraiser (on behalf of Nicole Jackson) to help out. Theirs reads: “as little girls, Junee sisters Megan Callow and Nicole Jackson dreamed of one day opening their own sewing studio. Four years ago, Brick Lane Sewing Studio was born, and then in 2023 their dream was realised when the sisters moved into their shop front on Lisgar Street, ensuring their services were more accessible to the community.
Megan and Nicole have poured their hearts into offering specialty seam-stress services, including wedding dress alterations, tailoring, formal wear alterations, custom creations, and repairs, with their 2025 dream set to launch their own bridal collection label and range.
“On Monday 10 February 2025, tragedy struck when a fire devastated the studio. Brick Lane has lost all machinery including industrial sewing machines, overlockers, computerised sewing ma-chines; along with over 45 wedding dresses, specialty fabrics, and priceless sewing equipment, including trade tools collected by the sisters for over 15years. Adding to their heartache, and extending the grief beyond that of just the sisters, many customer garments are damaged beyond repair, and even what was managed to be saved is likely ruined due to smoke damage. Nicole and her family welcomed their third baby and as she is currently on maternity leave.
“Megan and Nicole are heartbroken, however determined to rebuild. The outpouring of kindness, love and support from our community is amazing and means everything to these beautiful sisters and their family.”
You can donate to theirs here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fire-destroys-junee-sisters-dream-help-to-re-build. It is amazing to see what a small com-munity can do when they come together.
-Jack Murray
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.