STORY - "Making connections at live sparks."
By Tracey Edstein.

The leitmotif of E.M. Forster's novel Howard's End is “only connect”, and this might well be the mission statement for Live Sparks Café. It had long been the dream of dear friends Nicole Dobinson and Cherie Hageman to preside over a café or restaurant, a place, as Nicole said, “that was just pure joy, and fun, so that when the customers came in, they felt that”.

One distinguishing feature of Live Sparks is the blackboards that cover one section of the wall. The messages change daily but the tone of encouragement and hope is constant. Nicole and Cherie, staff and customers contribute quotations from sources ranging from St Thomas a Kempis to Oprah! Sometimes there are thought-provoking statements on the windows facing the bay, a sort of gentle ministry to passersby.

I became aware of Live Sparks through a fundraising breakfast for tsunami relief. Following a request from a regular customer, Cherie and Nicole not only hosted, but donated provisions and the services of staff for breakfast and dinner, raising some $5000! This is an example of the openness of these young women to welcoming others to their space in ways that are outwardly rather than inwardly oriented.

Cherie and Nicole had travelled extensively together and worked in the retail and hospitality industries, always with a view to establishing a welcoming place together. When the time was right, wisdom said that it would be best to begin where there was a support network of family and friends. The renovation of the space in Bayview Road Wartmers Bay , was very much a hands-on affair, with neighbouring business people taking a keen interest.

Striking colour, flowers, tempting aromas, comfy couches, books and magazines, musical ambience and of course delicious dishes all contribute to a welcoming and warm atmosphere at Live Sparks. Nicole has a strong sense that “people are getting what we're trying to achieve”. As we talked, she discovered a book that had been left on the coffee table as a gift. Not only are there many frequent customers, but groups which gather regularly – and not only women's groups!

The name “Live Sparks” is an expression of a conviction that Nicole has long held, “where intention goes, energy flows”. Ironically, for some time before Live Sparks opened last August, the site housed an abandoned shop which was a real ‘dead space'. Now the receipts issued to customers have “Live Love Laugh Lots” printed on them. The transformation is complete!

Back to Aurora Homepage