Upper Yarra
Tuesday, 24 August, 2021
Partnership produces a top drop
Angels keep up good work during lockdown
Opening the pages of Book Week
PAGE 4
PAGE 7
PAGES 8 & 9
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
WIN a $1000 SHOPPING SPREE
SCAN QR CODE
12509696-SN35-21
A Star News Group Publication
PROPERTY GUIDE
mailcommunity.com.au/competitions
Eric a cut above By Jed Lanyon
Eric has owned his store in Healesville for 50 years. Ben Duff described his father as his best friend and his teacher. “It’s been the best thing, it really has… To work alongside him has been really fantastic,” Ben said. “I don’t have many words to describe how
good it’s been. He’s the hardest working bloke I’ve ever met in my life. “Sixty-five years of butchering and it’s full-on hard work, heavy lifting, long hours, long days. “He’s a little bit slower these days but he still pushes on and keeps going.
YARRA RANGES
9737 6833
24d John St., LILYDALE
Cire Community School - Creating brighter futures www.cire.org.au | 1300 835 235 | communityschool@cire.org.au |
@cirecommunityschool
Learn more: Scan the QR code or visit www.cire.org.au
12423653-LB32-19
OPEN: MON-FRI 6.30am-5.00pm•SAT 8.00am-12.00noon
12508241-BL35-21
Ph: 5966 9999
Computer Colour Matching
AU36010
•SplitSystems •DuctedHeating andCooling •GasApplianceSales andInstallation
12339093-LB07-17
GAS HEAT & COOL
SPECIALISTS IN
Ben said his father has a strong presence in the community, not only for his butcher shop on Main Street, but for being involved with many local organisations and serving on the chamber of commerce and as Justice of the Peace. Continued page 2
12451780-SN25-20
It’s the end of an era for a local butcher shop as longtime butcher Eric Duff announced his retirement after serving the Healesville community for 50 years. Family owned business, The Beef Joint, will soon be sold as Mr Duff hangs up the apron in the coming weeks. Mr Duff left school and started as a butcher’s apprentice in 1956, eventually opening his own butcher shop in 1971 following the passing of his mentor Alex Christie. The 79-year-old told Star Mail he has enjoyed serving his loyal customers over several decades and that the decision to move on wasn’t easy. “It’s a bit strange and a bit different, it really is. From the day I first started butchering as an apprentice I’ve enjoyed the people and I’ve been a community working person for a long time. “One of the hardest things will be missing the companionship of people coming into the shop. They’re not customers, they’ve been really good friends,” Mr Duff said. The lifelong butcher prides himself on the top quality meats sold from The Beef Joint. “We’ve only sold grass-fed products, we’ve sourced very good products and we’ve stayed that way all this time,” he said. Mr Duff explained one of the best things to happen to him while running his shop was his son, Ben, deciding to join the business to work full-time, which he’s done for the last 20 years. “He’d been coming to the shop since he was three. He’d help set up, went to school, come after school. The whole family, at some stage, have worked with me at the shop.”