Crookwell pharmacist Ken Wicks celebrates half-century in business

The (mostly) men behind the counters were dressed in white coats and old fashioned medication bottles lined the shelves.

Little did he know at the time that he'd spend 50 years in the industry. That's the milestone he marked at his and wife Maria's Crookwell business, Harts Pharmacy, on Monday. Mr Wicks celebrated with family and his many friends who dropped in throughout the day, cake and a string of phone calls from people congratulating him.

"It's been a lovely day and everyone has gone to a lot of trouble," he told The Post.

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Raised in Temora, Mr Wicks' connection with this area started in 1961 as a Saint Patrick's College boarder. He was photographed for The Daily Telegraph's front page when catholic secondary students marched to Goulburn High School in 1962 as part of the State Aid protest.

Following his education, he was unsure about taking up a Commonwealth teaching scholarship. Instead, he opted to study Pharmacy at the University of Sydney, while boarding at his aunt's home. On completion of a registration year back at Temora, Mr Wicks took up an opportunity at Crookwell. He'd heard on the grapevine it was a "friendly town."

Pharmacist Peter Hart had died and his widow, Andie, was keen to find a replacement for the business. By coincidence, Mr Hart's son had attended Saint Pat's at the same time as Mr Wicks.

"I arrived on March 22, 1971 for three months to see if I liked it. I can only assume I did because I'm still here," Mr Wicks quipped.

In 1985 he bought the business. Fourteen years later it temporarily relocated in the main street while the building was knocked down and reconstructed.

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In the interim, he met Goulburn girl Maria Janauskas at a Saint Patrick's reunion. They later married and had a son and three daughters, two of the latter being twins. His daughter, Cassandra, works in the pharmacy today.

"There have been lots of challenges," Mr Wicks said.

"Industries change but it has been profound in pharmacy. We used to write scripts up in big ledgers but with computerisation, people's prescription history can be called up in 20 seconds. It has made a huge difference to medicine.

"But one thing that hasn't changed is the satisfaction you get from helping someone...In the scheme of things they're often not life threatening conditions but the feedback you get is lovely."

Unsurprisingly, he knows almost every customer by their first name. Over the years, Mr Wicks has also immersed himself in community organisations such as the Crookwell Green Devils rugby league committee, school Parents and Friends, Crookwell Business Development Association, of which he was president, and the town's Australia Day organising committee.

"Everything I put in I got back tenfold," Mr Wicks said.

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In turn, the community appreciated his contribution. At last week's meeting, Upper Lachlan Shire Council Mayor John Stafford presented him with a certificate recognising his service.

On Monday, Maria also gave him a plaque to mount in the business. The day was made extra special with a visit from Mr Hart's two daughters, Veronica Steep and Margaret Hilly, who travelled for the occasion.

As for any thought of retirement, Mr Wicks said "it was getting closer all the time," but not yet.

"Pharmacy has been a very rewarding career, especially in country NSW," he told The Post.

"...When you have your own place and see people regularly, you get to know them and their family. It is such a rich environment to practice."

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