Some rest and relaxation are prescribed for one of Salamander Bay’s hardest workers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sandra Harrison has operated the Wanda Beach Pharmacy for 31 years and while she’s lived in the area there’s been preciously little time truly appreciate it.
Now she’s sold the business, that’s about to change.
“I’m going to enjoy the area,” Ms Harrison said.
“I’m very grateful to all my customers, without their support we wouldn’t have lasted this long. I’m sure the new owners will do a fantastic job following in our footsteps.”
Ms Harrison said it had been a rewarding if sometimes taxing life being a pharmacist.
“It’s really a partnership between us and doctors because we’re often the first port of call,” she said.
“Part of a pharmacist’s role it to refer people to a doctor when the person thinks its a minor ailment, but it’s actually quite serious.
“I had one customer say to me, ‘no matter how busy you are, you always take the time to check in’, which is nice.”
In other local news:
The pharmacy’s location puts it in contact with a variety of people from the elderly through to mums and dads with little ones.
“It’s the holiday makers, the itches, insect bites, coughs and colds, the pharmacist is often the first port of call,” Ms Harrison said.
“The people we really look out for are the ones that don’t tend to seek help, the one’s who mistakenly think nothing is wrong.”
House calls have made up a significant part of the business and at times presented challenges to her and the team.
She listed a number of scenarios including finding people unconscious due to medical episodes or immobile with a broken limb after a fall. On one occasion there was even a customer trapped in a house fire.
“It’s amazing the situations we have found ourselves in,” Ms Harrison said.
“Pharmacy life is much more than just putting labels on bottles
The house calls, combined with some late trading have caused her to rack up the hours at times.
She estimates the job has taken up 80 per cent of her time considering the after hours calls and late-closing store.
“It became my life rather than a job but I’ve been fortunate to have an understanding husband,” she said.
“Three decades is a long time. With the younger ones it’s all about the next career step, the next opportunity.”
Ms Harrison will make fewer and fewer appearances behind the counter over the coming weeks now the business has sold.
