Free again

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 232, 23 February 1988, Page 8

Free again

Ohakune Photo Pharmacy proprietors Bruce and Nita Wilde are free again. The Wildes have sold their pharmacy to the CoIIecutt family who take over the shop this week (see other story this page). A pharmacist for 28 years, Bruce Wilde came to Ohakune in 1968 and likened the move "to being let out of jail". "I was very enthusiastic about progress in Ohakune and the area and the mountain", said Mr Wilde. Mr Wilde spent six years as an Ohakune Borough Councillor including three years as

chairman of the town planning committee and still has a strong interest in town planning in Ohakune. He was a member of Jaycees for nine years, has been a member of TASCI for 20 years, including five years as president, and is now a member of Rotary. Nita Wilde has spent her time here as a primary school teacher, raising a family and working part time and full time in the pharmacy. Fourteen years a g o they bought the Miro Park site as a hobby farm. "We spent a colossal amount of time on it to bring it t o

what it is today," said Mr Wilde. The Wildes plan to put more effort i n t o Southridge at Miro Park to complete the project. The pharmacy the Wildes started with in Ohakune was in Clyde Street in the shop that is now Ohakune Sports and Gifts. One of it's claims to fame was as a set for

the movie 'Smash Palace' made in 1980. The pharmacy moved to the present premises in 1981. "We certainly haven't regretted the move," said Mr Wilde. "It's closer to the doctor, the dentist, plunket, the optician and we have plenty of parking which is essential in the ski season" he said.

Bruce Wilde trained through what he called "the old school", the same way Robin CoIIecutt trained. "We're rare birds," said Mr Wilde. "There's no substitute in our profession for maturity and years of experience. This is where I think Robin will be a big success," he said.