Legends of Gagebrook
Service station couple back behind counter after battle
WE NEVER FEEL LIKE WE ARE WORKING HERE. IT’S OUR FAMILY. WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE TREATING OUR FAMILY, WE ARE NOT TREATING OUR CUSTOMERS AJAY KUMAR
THE Indian couple who run a Gagebrook service station have been hailed as “Aussie legends” by the Gagebrook community.
Ajay Kumar and Nisha Thaker’s familiar faces are back behind the counter following a heartfelt community petition to get them reinstated.
The United service station had been forced to shut in April following a red tape battle with Brighton Council over an unapproved renovation.
During that time Mrs Thaker said they had been “inundated” with offers of support from the community, which had grown deeply attached to the couple.
“People are so helpful. Every minute of the day I would receive messages from everyone in the community who wanted to help us in whatever way they could,” Mrs Thaker said.
“We never felt like they were separate from us; we felt they were one of the family. During the bad times, we saw
that we were not wrong.”
The duo immigrated from India in 2015, but regular customer Liz Hamer said they were the most fair-dinkum
Aussie couple in the entire neighbourhood.
“They’re more local than anyone else I know. I love ‘em dearly because it’s always a
G’day and how y’going? They also know everyone’s names,” Mrs Hamer said.
“They give high fives to people who are their friends, which is pretty much everyone.”
Mr Kumar is especially renowned for his broad smile and friendly overtures, regularly fist-bumping and hugging customers who come into the servo.
During his five years behind the counter he has come to know most of the locals on a first-name basis, and has since become somewhat of an unofficial icon of the region.
“We never feel like we are working here. It’s our family. We feel like we are treating our family, we are not treating our customers, you know?” Mr Kumar said.
“It’s all because of the good people here, not just Gagebrook. It’s Bridgewater, Old Bridge, Honeywood. They’re all family.”