Best Kept Secrets
from Le Dāin Designs
HERE AT FOCUS, WE REALLY LOVE TO MEET THE LOCALS AND HEAR THEIR STORIES. THE VIGNES ARE ONE OF OUR WELL-LOVED FAMILIES WHO WORK HARD FOR A LIVING AND HAVE STAYED TOGETHER THROUGH THICK AND THIN. THEY OWN AND RUN THE SERVICE STATION, VIP (VIGNES INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM). I WAS PRIVILEGED TO HEAR AND SHARE THEIR STORY.
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ow long has the business been running for? The business has been here for over 70 years. To the best of our knowledge, Bert and Nina Parsons started here in the 1950s after acquiring an old potato shed. The first bowser was added, and a small line of grocery essentials soon followed. Is your family local? When did you take over the business? We are originally from Sydney, but after residing here for over thirty years, we are now classed as locals! Our dad, John, moved up here in January 1982 to manage a branch of Wreckair Hire. I (Dwayne) followed in March of that year, and Dad and I shared a flat in the Jetty area. Dad would return to Sydney every two weeks to see his beloved wife and our mum, Shirley, and the other kids, Greg, Lisa and Janelle. At the end of 1982, Dad was asked to return to Sydney with Wreckair, but had grown to love the area and the lifestyle so much, it was decided to sell up the family home in Sydney and relocate to the Coffs Coast. Mum and Dad took over the management of Boambee Park 54 coffs coast focus.
and Eli. Together with her husband, Andrew, Reserve in late 1982, and in 1983 the servo they live over in Raleigh. My lovely wife, Anne, came up for grabs! It was decided that eldest and I now live on the premises at son, Greg, would run the servo and Mum the servo. It is very much a and Dad would stay on at the park family affair. until the contract was finished. We hear your dad The family took over the e The mural out th was quite a charservo in 1984 and has been der front is a remin acter? here ever since. strength of Dad and the Sadly, our father, Tell us about how the was of the family. It John, passed away family works? t ted by local artis ea cr in 2012 and like Dad was always a also sh Johnson, who A with any family, it hard worker and typical ing did the adve rtis si de of was devastating. in of that generation. He e th on k or artw It didn’t only affect would come across as the wall.” the family, but also the grumpy but once you got to whole community. We know him, he was very funny didn’t have a funeral, but as and was always up for a joke! per his wishes, had a gathering Mum is, and we might be biased here, of the community to share a beer and so very kind and gentle. We can’t rememthe memories of our father. The response ber her ever raising her voice! She loves her was huge and shed light on to what a great family very much and has a calming influence impact our dad had on so many people. This on us all. will always be a treasured memory. Greg is a lot like dad and loves a joke. Lisa Your service station is old school, which is is also a hard worker and loves her dogs; she so refreshing; tell us a bit about it? now shares a house with Mum across the road It’s hard to compete with the big boys! But from the servo. Janelle also works at the servo we offer driveway service, which is rare these and is devoted to her children, Callum, Myah
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days. We also fuel up but check the oil, check the tyre pressure and wash the windscreens if required. Our customers love it! What do you all enjoy most about the business? The best part of the job is the interaction with the customers. Sometimes our so called humour is misunderstood, but if we can have a customer go away with a smile, we are happy! You have a mural on the Servo wall; tell us how that came about? The mural out the front is a reminder of Dad and the strength of the family. It was created by local artist Ash Johnson, who also did the advertising artwork on the inside of the wall. We also wanted to advertise and promote other small local businesses like ourselves. What do you love most about living here on the Coffs Coast? We love the wonderful lifestyle on the Coffs Coast. The small community of Sawtell is just fantastic! The community has been very loyal to us, so while we are here we will continue to plod along and offer the driveway service as long as we can. Thank you Dwayne; we wish you and your family all the very best.