ABOVE: Dianne Webb and Sarah Williams are busy preparing the Whiporie shop to open on Monday. Photo: Susanna Freymark
Susanna Freymark
Sarah Williams is busy stocking the fridges with soft drinks at the Whiporie General Store.
Her mother Dianne Webb is arranging packets of crisps on a wide wire shelf.
The Whiporie shop closed three months ago and left the community having to travel to Casino or Grafton for supplies.
On Monday it reopens with new owners.
Dianne and her husband Shaun Ashen live in West Bungawalbin. They lost their home in the 2019 bushfires and have since rebuilt. They were looking for an investment property when they saw the shop at Whiporie.
They bought it and when they told their family, everyone wanted to be involved.
Sarah will manage the shop, her husband Jesse will help and with their four children they will live in the house attached to the shop.
Dianne’s son Chris will also be helping.
Sarah is a chef with 15 years’ experience and she will be making homemade pies and slices to sell in the shop. She specialises in dietary requirements making vegetarian and gluten free foods.
Petrol, gas bottles, alcohol, meat from Casino and ice will be available.
The shop opens Monday at 7am.
“The community is very excited,” Sarah said.
The shop has been painted and has new flooring. By Monday, the shelves will be stocked and the doors open.
and then
Congratulations to You and all the Family
Well done
We wish you every success in the future
It’s so lovely to see Business opening and not closing in this struggling times
You will do very well there iam sure
Good Luck & Have a Merry Christmas to all your Family 🧑🎄🤶🎅
Fantastic news for the community …congratulations I wish you huge success
That’s great news I only passed through there last weekend and though what a shame it was shut as it has been there for such a long time . Wish you all the best .
I love Whiporie and tbe store. So excited it will be alive again.
Thank you x
Fabulous news I would always stop and get a coffee when travelling from Grafton to Casino to see my mum.
Yep, often popped in for a Billabong and top up of fuel. Like to see these small remote icons and community hubs to survive. Maybe All Levels of Government can come up with plans to ensure they do. Remember “Buy Local or Buy Local”.
Wish you all the best. The last shop owners are beautiful. Food was fantastic n friendly. Staff just made you wanna go back. Goodluck guys
That’s fantastic welcome to the area and we will support you on our way to casino at times
So happy it hasn’t been lost to the past
Fantastic. As a regular travellers my partner and I will be stopping in for lunches and snacks. Looking forward to saying G’day