Waiouru people healthy, chemist to close

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 563, 22 November 1994, Page 1

Waiouru people healthy, chemist to close

By

Michele

Monaghan

The Waiouru Chemist will close its doors for the last time on Wednesday 30 November. Pharmacy manager Sandy Florence said

the reason for the closure boils down to economics. "We're not getting enough business to make it viable for us to stay," he said.

Mr Florence said that when they (himself and two others) first looked at taking over the pharmacy they believed that it was mismanaged and should have

been doing a lot better than it was. "We weren't here to rip anybody off, we were here to get a return on our investment and provide a service

to Waiouru. What we expected to happen didn't happen," he said. Mr Florence said the partners didn't take in to account the healthy population in Waiouru. "The age group we're dealing with don't need the medical and pharmaceutical care like the 40-plus age group. The kids do, (but) no more than anywhere else." He said that since opening in May, the two managers have been working for no pay. "We can't maintain that forever. It's an economic situation purely. We're not disappointed with the situation in Waiouru, we'rejust disappointed that we can't make ends meet." Mr Florence said that the closure of the pharmacy ^ was an unfortunate situation that was Turn to Page 2 This S jjr meats, ea

Chemist to close in Waiouru

FROM PAGE 1 happening throughout the country. "Ten years ago there would have been no problems here." He said that with the advent of K Mart, The Warehouse and the like, people

are travelling out of town a lot more and the small community businesses are missing out. Mr Florence said that it has got to the stage where the accountants and bank managers are telling them they have to get out. "Wecame here with good intentions. We gave it a fair go, it just didn't work." Phil Gardyne, chairman of the Waiouru Community Health Group, said obviously the best solution for the community was to keep the pharmacy open. "And we'll explore that avenue. If that doesn ' t work then we'll have to look at a depot system." He said he does not see it as an army problem. "It's a community problem - the community has to get involved. They need to take some responsibility for themselves and not just expect the army to sort out their problems." A public meeting is being considered for Friday and if it is to go ahead, a letterbox drop will be organised to notify residents, said Mr Gardyne. Footnote: Anybody with outstanding photos or prescriptions are requested to pick them up.