She has watched children grow up, served their children, trained young juniors who later became mothers themselves, shared countless laughs and, inevitably some tears.
For Vicki, a lifetime in pharmacy was never just about prescriptions, it was about people.
People are the reason she stayed in a job she loved for more than half a century, and why saying goodbye has been so emotional.
Born in Yarrawonga and raised in Tungamah, Vicki was just 15 when she met with a chance encounter.
After completing work experience at Brian Nicholls Pharmacy, Vicki was walking along Belmore Street with her mum one Saturday morning when Brian Nicholls stepped outside and offered her a job.
“I wasn’t that into school, so I said yes,” Vicki said.
Brian Nicholls had one condition, that Vicki finish Year 10.
She did, then walked through the pharmacy doors to a career that would span an extraordinary 51 years.
Much of that time was spent within essentially the same Yarrawonga pharmacy as names, owners and locations changed from Brian Nicholls Pharmacy to Pharmacy on Belmore and eventually Blooms.
Five years ago, Vicki crossed the bridge to Mulwala to work with pharmacist Abbey Hammon, whom she had previously worked alongside in Yarrawonga.
Wherever Vicki worked, her favourite part of the job never changed.
“The customers; I just loved it,” Vicki said.
“I loved helping them and I loved talking to them, probably talked too much.”
Those conversations across the counter became friendships.
“I’ve served the older people, then I served their kids and now I’m serving their kids,” Vicki said.
“You become very close to them.”
Vicki came to know about their families, their children and their lives, and when customers passed away, she felt their loss personally.
“Sometimes it’s as heartbreaking as if it was a really good friend, because they do become like your family and friends,” she said.
Equally special were the many young juniors Vicki trained.
They arrived as students working after school, and Vicki grew fond of them, watching them grow up and begin families of their own.
There were also “millions of laughs” and countless memories with customers and colleagues along the way.
Now, two little people are calling Vicki into her next chapter, her two-year-old granddaughter and a four-month-old baby.
With her daughter recently moving from Melbourne with her baby, Vicki is looking forward to spending precious time with her grandchildren, family and friends.
When asked what she wanted to say to the Yarrawonga, Mulwala and Tungamah communities she served for so long, Vicki became emotional.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said.
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