LOCAL LIFE
To serve them all their days ! by Greg Martin
Readers of this fine magazine who peruse my jottings can easily figure out that I am always delighted to meet , interview and tell the stories about my subjects .
This magazine always focuses on the positive , never the negative – hence myself and my colleagues get our kicks out of writing our subjects ’ interesting stories .
One of my long-time friends , Neal Hall , is always on the look-out to put me onto a good yarn and boy-o-boy , do I owe him bottle of fine red wine in steering me over to Richmond Coles .
Where I was most fortunate to meet three of the store ’ s true stalwarts , who , between them , have devoted just about all their working lives at the coal face at Coles Richmond .
Coles Richmond opened in May 1979 and between them these three amazing women have served the company for 126 years !
Alison Dowell , who toils in office administration , has been with Coles for 43 years – the past 37 of them at Richmond .
Sharon Smith and Joanne Durkin have had the pleasure of spending more time with their customers , being out front of house .
Sharon and Joanne have served all their working lives at
Richmond Coles – Sharon for 42 years , and Joanne , 41 years . “ And we ’ re not finished yet ,” quipped Joanne . “ The three of us love what we do here – it is always a joy coming to the supermarket , working with our colleagues , and meeting and serving our customers .”
Joanne grew up in Londonderry and joined Coles straight out of school .
“ I love working here – it is close to home and I ’ ve , just like Alison and Sharon , made good friends , not only with staff but many of our customers .
“ In fact , such have been our friendships with several customers , the three of us have attended their funerals .”
Sharon grew up in Freemans Reach and also joined Coles
Strolling down one of the isles at Coles Richmond are three lovely women who are wedded to the place . Between them , Sharon Smith ( l ), Joanne Durkin , and Alison Dowell ( r ) have been wedded to the supermarket for 126 years ! Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
straight out of school .
“ I have to mirror Joanne ’ s words – it is always a joy coming here to serve our customers and mingle with fellow workmates ,” Sharon said .
“ You know , all the years we ’ re known and worked with each other , the three of us have never had real quarrels and that ’ s saying something .”
As a young woman , Alison relocated from South Australia to Richmond where she was reunited with her sister .
“ I came here in July 1981 , and that September , I applied for and landed a role in office administration – best moves I ’ ve ever made , moving to Richmond and landing this job ,” Alison said .
All three ladies say they would build on their tenure at Coles Richmond .
“ Retirement is the last thing on our minds ,” Alison quipped .
I asked them about their future plans , and all three ladies said they intended to make the most of their next holidays .
Joanne and Sharon enjoy caravanning and they ’ ll be hitting the road next year – Sharon heading to the Top End and travelling down the centre of Australia , while Joanne has mapped out a tour of Victoria and South Australia .
Alison said she ’ s off to Scotland next May for a holiday , highlighted by attending a niece ’ s wedding .
POSTSCRIPT : I was hoping that we could rope another Coles Richmond long-time employee into our interview and photograph , but unfortunately Terri Munro , who retired in June after 40 years ’ service , had a bad dose of the wanderlust and was on an extended holiday traversing Australia .
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 172 // SEPTEMBER 2024 13