Those smiling, familiar faces that are John Hamblin and Paul “Happy” Richens - spent decades greeting dozens of customers and clients.
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But this week they signed-off.
You heard right, these local legends both quietly retired on the same day this week.
John Hamblin sifted through his last batch of prescriptions at Hamblin’s Amcal Max Pharmacy on Tuesday after almost 55 years on the job - more than 48 of those spent in Young.
He started out in 1959 when he graduated as a pharmacist from the University of Sydney.
Relieving around country NSW for several months led the then 22-year-old from Sydney to Young to manage Oscar Taaffe’s Pharmacy, where Kidz Collection is today.
He returned a year later as a permanent manager.
By 1965 - after marrying Janet Harris - the couple moved to Gympie after purchasing their own pharmacy.
But seven years later, the Hamblins just couldn’t stay away from Young when Mrs Taaffe honoured her promise to offer John the local pharmacy if it ever came up for sale.
After changing shopfronts to their current location on the corner of Lynch and Boorowa streets in 1974, John hasn’t moved since.
“I was keen to have a larger shop, so with the assistance of Peter Harris and his workmen, I converted the former department store into a pharmacy,” John said.
“One of my favourite memories was the Saturday as I was cleaning up and the former Changi inmate (and Boorowa Street neighbour) Arthur Gilbert arrived with the odd long neck.
“One only needed the former New Guinea soldier Dunc Crawford to be fully entertained by these fascinating businessmen.
“There were many identities at the time - Bill Kearney, Lyster Holland, Jack Bond, Morrie Hanley, Alan Roynam, Mac Chellew, Ken Kerr, John Dalton, John R, John Kirkwood, Guyon and Jim Purchas, Frank Moody, Gordon Loveridge and Dick Connelly.”
Behind the scenes John has also been involved in several sports, Apex, Rotary, 33 years on the Young Retirement Village board and two terms on the Young Municipal Council prior to its merger with Burrangong Shire Council.
“The pharmacy has given me an opportunity to meet many special people in this great town,” John said.
“It has been a privilege to have watched and hopefully assisted in helping all ages, especially the aged and the young.
“Not sure what the future holds, we hope to see more of our 15 grandchildren.”
John has also been researching the early history of Tangmangaroo on the upper Boorowa River for some years.
In his new found spare time he hopes to publish this history and that of the Young district prior to the Lambing Flat Riots.
He also looks forward to playing more tennis, stick picking on his family’s farm and watching the cricket.
“But I will really miss our customers and regular contact with them,” John said.
“I have almost forgiven all those fieldsmen who managed to drop catches off my bowling - even if they were on nearby roads at the time.”
