Jo’s cafe serves up support and cake
A year ago, Joanne Watson turned the downstairs of her historic home in a tiny Taranaki town it into a cafe – and says it's one of her best decisions.
‘‘I think it makes a difference that it's our home,'' says the former photographer, who runs Urenui's Old Town Hall Cafe´ & Tea Room. ‘‘It was the old town hall. One married couple said it was their reception venue 55 years ago.
‘‘It's like a never-ending dinner party. I have never been so happy as now.''
Joanne, who runs the business with husband Mike, said the cafe had helped her through some difficult times, including family illnesses, and she wanted it to bring people together.
‘‘We want this to be a place of refuge. The doors are open.
‘‘A lot of people want to talk and they deserve to be listened to, and we'll never be in too much of a hurry for that.''
Joanne, 54, used to run the Urenui country market and enjoyed its sense of community. ‘‘The cafe came out of that, sensing how wonderful it was to bring people together.''
Stepson Matthew, who is autistic, washes the dishes while Joanne runs everything else.
She says the cafe has helped her through some difficult times.
He mother, who lives in England, suffered a stroke shortly before the cafe opened, and although Joanne was able to visit she found running the cafe helped take her mind off the situation upon her return to New Zealand. Meanwhile, middle daughter Mikayla, 25, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer on January 19, while already batting a serious disease of her immune system.
In a grim irony, Mikayla's
diagnosis came eight years to the day that youngest daughter, Emma, 11, was diagnosed with leukaemia.
This news arrived two weeks after the wedding of Joanne and Mike, who have seven children between them.
The family was told Emma would not survive, but she defied the odds. But while Emma was recovering, Joanne’s sister-in-law died from a brain tumour. Emma is now in remission and Mikayla is continuing with treatment. ‘‘We’ll just take January 19th out of future calenders,’’ Joanne said.
In April, Joanne was hit with more bad news – her friend, a regular customer, had terminal cancer. ‘‘She had the very special understanding that you have to live, you have to seize every moment and you have to laugh and have joy. And she said she really felt that when she came here.’’
Joanne says the cafe has become a way for her to cope with the trials and tribulations of life, and she wants it to be a refuge for people who may be struggling.
‘‘I think for a lot of people who will come in here there is loneliness,’’ she said.
‘‘And if we can fill that it feeds my soul, my spirit, my heart. So it’s a bit selfish really, but it goes around in full circle.
‘‘People come in and say they’re on their journey, and I say, ‘Eat the cake.’’’