By Raquel Mustillo
THE final trading days of Target Country Millicent has sent one resident and former employee on a trip down memory lane as she retells the story behind the department store’s history.
Long-time employee Mary Clifford fondly recalled her eight-year stint at the George Street store ahead of its closure on Saturday.
After moving to Millicent with her father in 1966, the 15-year-old saw am advertisement for a position at Target Country Millicent – then Coles.
“I applied and got a job straight away,” she said.
“The next week, I received a telegram from Apcel [Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill] saying I could start next week, but I thought it would be more fun at Coles especially being in the main street of Millicent and being nearly 16 – lots of boys to meet.”
Ms Clifford started on the confectionary counter and was tasked with bagging and serving lollies to customers.
The teenager quickly progressed to being in charge of the toy counter, before moving on to window dressing.
“I liked window dressing because you could see what was happening outside,” she said.
Ms Clifford remained at the job until 1974 and said she still remained in contact with colleagues and managers.
“We had some great bosses and we were all young girls, there were some boys as well, and it was like a big family,” she said.
“We got boyfriends, got engaged and got married while working at Coles. “I am still friends with most of the girls today.”
Ms Clifford said there were a number of differences between retail now compared to the golden age.
“We certainly were lucky in the 60s and 70s,” she said.
“Jobs were easy to get and we stayed in one job longer than nowadays.
“More is expected from customers now I think and a lot of staff would be under more stress now from their bosses.”
Tomorrow’s closure ends six decades of trading at the storefront, which housed Target Country, Fosses and Coles brands since opening in the mid 1960s.
It follows the closure of Millicent Commonwealth Bank branch and the Absolutely Anything general wares store, which shut its doors in 2020.
Within the past two years, the Millicent Central Hub, Allan Schwarz Ag-Marine and Country Attitude have also closed.
