After nearly three decades of service, MIchelle and Russell Ingram are leaving Terry White Chemmart to be closer to their family.
After 27 years owning and managing Terry White Chemmart, Russell and Michelle Ingram called it a day last Saturday and are heading south to coastal Victoria, to be closer to family.
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They have witnessed a huge change to Yarrawonga-Mulwala with many new residential estates and a doubling in population to more than 11,500 people.
“Pharmacy practice has changed dramatically too,” Michelle said.
“We did have computers for dispensing, but stock control used paper workbooks and tills were manual.
“Now people walking in with paper scripts is becoming a thing of the past with e-scripts and apps for ordering.”
The Ingrams were proud to have embraced technology, implementing point-of-sale technology, then one of the first Consis (robotic) dispensing units in Australia, and a Webster robot when that too was innovative.
The store has substantially increased in size. With the blessing of landlord Jim Judd, a storeroom, a staff room, a ‘webbie world’ and a ‘care clinic’ were added.
Dedicated rooms for vaccination, sleep services, wound care and the increasing pharmacist prescribing options, as well as a beauty room became features too.
Other major changes included becoming Terry White, then Terry White Chemmart store 15 years ago and opening a second pharmacy at Woods Road seven years ago.
“But community pharmacy hasn’t changed at heart, it is still about caring for our community,” Michelle said.
“We have enjoyed being an integral part of healthcare in our town, especially during Covid, even though trading through to provide a service was a tough time for pharmacy and our staff.”
It was 1994 when Michelle started as a pharmacist at the Amcal Pharmacy with Peter Tonner. Both Russell and Michelle had moved to Wangaratta from Melbourne when Russell was appointed deputy director of pharmacy at Wangaratta Base Hospital.
Receiving an offer of partnership with Peter and Robert Davies, they both became proprietors in 1998 and set up a new home in Yarrawonga.
Their four children were born and raised in Yarrawonga and worked in the pharmacy but have now spread their wings.
Russell and Michelle Ingram pictured in 2000, two years after they took over ownership of the Amcal Pharmacy.
Many years ago, Russell began utilising his hospital background to focus on providing hospital services and medication reviews while Michelle focused on retailing and human resources.
The pair loved that so many customers became part of their pharmacy world.
“Most of all we are grateful to be part of so many of our customers’ lives. We have shared highs and lows, loss and everyday joys,” Michelle said.
“During these many years of ownership we have had many fine staff members, and we would like to thank them all, past and present.
With lots of bouquets of flowers, Bev Whinray, Jan Tull and Sharon Foster finished at Terry White Chemmart last Friday.
“In particular, we would like to acknowledge the three staff members who finished last Friday: Bev Whinray (dispensary tech) after 18 years, Sharon Foster (office) after 13 years and Jan Tull (sales) after one year.
“We also had some long-serving staff who have made enormous contributions – Jodie Fletcher for 30 years our fragrance queen and gift buying guru, Tegan Powell who left recently after 22 years and together with Bev Whinray kept our dispensary ticking, and Louise Olphert, our retail manager of 15 years.
“We hope we have delivered a high level of care and advice to our customers, locals, tourists, aged care facilities, Webster pack patients and the hospital.”
With such high patronage over almost three decades, Russell and Michelle can leave knowing they provided that high standard of service.
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