Butchers, bakers, candestick makers

from w
The National Wool Museum in Geelong currently is running a photograph exhibition of local shopkeepers and craftsmen and their business ventures. This is a far cry from the super-size supermarket mania that I do not like. Well, one picture is of our Boundary Rd butcher, Ken Phemister who has been in his shop for 36 years. Our nearby little shopping strip has a fish and chip guy from Lebanon where I buy the papers and milk and talk politics, then Ken's shop where he always gives me twice the meat I pay for and good yarns, then a fishing gear shop, and then a scuba diving shop, so it's a strangely fishy group of shops.

Westfield development in Geelong

from w
Despite many protests, the bulldozers are in pulling down buildings and preparing to 'upgrade' the supermarket and shops both sides of Yarra Street in downtown Geelong. The artist's view of the glass bridge may look enticing but it's not what many people want. We like our view of sea and sky! My two minute sketch doesn't do it justice but it's a nice clean look which will be spoilt by the greed of capitalists and the shareholders wanting more and more dividends with their plans for 'development'. Hey, what's wrong with shopping strips and family businesses? The Geelong Council caved into 'development' and there's only one teeny problem left - who owns the air above the street where there will be pylons to hold up the glass cage?
While they change to look of this part of the city, there will be no supermarket in central Geelong for six months. Okay, we will shop elsewhere, particularly in our own suburbs and perhaps never go back!