Joy Westcott found a photo of herself modelling in the 1970s, three generations of the Vardanega family were present and the girls from the old canteen reminisced.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Even Santa was there incognito.
Past and present staff and long-time shoppers of Myer Orange came together on Wednesday for a farewell morning tea, an occasion tinged with sadness and a tear, just four days before the iconic Summer Street department store closes for good.
The shop is now a shadow of its former bustling self, the escalator to the first floor is blocked off, whole departments emptied of stock are barricaded off and disused cash registers are taped up waiting to go to other stores.
But, as staff reflected, this was a place that was always about people, those that worked there and those that shopped there.
Wendy Reddan started her 15-years at Myer in the canteen with Marj McAndrews.
“I learned how to cook from Marj,” Mrs Reddan said.
“It’s a bit sad now.
“I feel sad for the staff who are here now. It doesn’t seem right.
“You always had somewhere to go for a nice outfit. It’s a family place.”
Mrs McAndrew, who worked at the store for 26 years, said she still caught up with old workmates at Gosling Creek Aged Care every Tuesday.
With his bushy grey beard giving a hint of the role he played for the past 15 years George Willoughby said he started there when it was Grace Brothers.
“It’s been a fun 15 years, it’s been an interesting 15 years,” he said.
Wally Jones remembered when the store sold agricultural produce and tools.
“I’m 75, I started shopping here when I was 17.”
He said he still had a set of spanners he bought there in 1960.
Robyn Vardanega said she started in cosmetics working on and off in the store for 30 years until now.
“It’s very sad. I’ve got great memories. It’s been an amazing team here.”
Joy Westcott worked there from 1970 to 1985 and modelled clothing for store advertisements.
She found a photo of herself from the 1970s on display.
“We used to do a lot of the advertisements. This was wool fashions at the Orange Ex-Services’ Club.”