Sleep in a priority for Joe and Carmela
But it is for Joe Greco who, with his wife Carmela, has owned and operated the Bunyip newsagency for the past 21 years.
It has been a 3-3.30am start to his days, seven days a week, throughout that time apart from a single one-week holiday he and Carmela took about 15 years ago.
The popular couple are closing the business on June 30 after unsuccessfully trying to sell it for the past two-and-a-half years.
Home deliveries in Bunyip, Garfield and rural areas – the Grecos took over the Garfield deliveries when the newsagency in that town closed three years ago – will be continued through Cardinia Distribution from Pakenham.
Bunyip is now well and truly in Joe and Carmela’s blood.
They first came to the town in 1991 when Joe was appointed manager of the Westpac bank branch.
After two years he was transferred to Melbourne but left the bank three years later.
That was when Joe and Carmela decided to buy the Bunyip newsagency then located in Main St.
Ten years ago it moved into new supermarket complex when it opened. Joe and Carmela have no plans to leave Bunyip. “We love the town, have children and grandchildren nearby and have made many local friends,” Joe said.
Joe said he and Carmela “would have loved to pass the business on” to new owners but said the fact they haven’t was a sign of the times with the industry.
Selling newspapers is no longer enough, he said, pointing out the importance to their business of the unconventional newsagency “goods” they sell, from jewellery to gifts and a host of knick-knacks.
They are the things Carmela said she was sad to be leaving behind her.
“I loved going to the suppliers to choose things to stock,” she said, while admitting there were plenty of things she ordered that didn’t make it to the shop’s shelves. They finished up at home, instead. Both Joe and Carmela say they’ll miss their customers but expect to still see many of them about the town.
We are both fit and healthy, Joe said, and it is the right time to retire and be able to do things.
The last month of running the business will not see any slowdown.
In fact their month long “June sale” of stock will more than likely have them as busy as they’ve ever been.
Gippsland football and netball clubs are renewing hostilities against one of regional communities’ biggest issues through Gippsland Footy’s Fight Against Ice project, with Nilma-Darnum to host a seminar on Thursday, June 8.
The program was launched last year, with seminars held at 18 clubs across Gippsland.
The Bombers are one of a further 12 senior clubs to participate in this year’s program by hosting forums run by project partners AFL Gippsland, Victoria Police and GippSport and supported by education and social responsibility partner Federation Training over the next three months.
Fellow Ellinbank District Football League club Lang Lang will also host a forum on Thursday, June 29, while West Gippsland club Garfield will hold its forum in July.
A further joint-session will be held for a group of clubs in the Warragul and District Junior Football League.
Former Collingwood AFL premiership player Gavin Crosisca and 2016 Bass Coast Young Citizen of the Year Rebecca Slavin return as project ambassadors and guest speakers.
Crosisca battled a drug addiction for nearly 30 years, but is six years clean and sober and is now a qualified intervention professional at Alcohol and Drug Help and director at the Sober Living Housing Addiction Recovery program.
Slavin is a former ice user turned motivational speaker, who previously spent 15 months in a rehabilitation centre coming to terms with her addiction to the drug.
AFL Gippsland region general manager Travis Switzer said assisting in the development of socially responsible clubs was an important way to support the community.
“After a very successful series of education sessions last year our clubs were very keen to see us continue the program in 2017,” he said.
“We are very fortunate to have great project partners that share AFL Gippsland’s passion about tackling this issue.
“Footy netball clubs are made up of a wide cross section of our communities so our sport is a great vehicle to educate our community on the dangers associated with drug use.”
GippSport executive officer Barry Switzer said part of the program was about assisting clubs to engage in practical methods of tackling the issue.
“One desired outcome from this program is the development and adoption of a club policy regarding illicit drugs which is clearly understood by all members,” he said.
“This will give clubs something to turn to if and when they have to manage potentially challenging drug-related issues they may encounter in the future.”