Acts of local community kindness – a shining beacon on the coronavirus (COVID-19) frontline

Pharmacy Guild of Australia member, Albany Creek Day & Night Chemist (now TerryWhite Chemmart Albany Creek), an active part of the north Brisbane community, became a shining beacon of hope in the community in 2020 after making and supplying hand sanitiser to a local café that was struggling under coronavirus pandemic trading restrictions.

Thanks to Albany Creek Day & Night Chemist’s kindness, compounding skills, and innovation, Wiseguy Café and Schnitzel Bar (Wiseguy) were able to raise more than $400 from the hand sanitiser donation to help pay for staff wages and overheads.

Supporting the local community is important to pharmacist and part-owner, Paul Scholz, who said that the pharmacy had re-opened last Saturday 11 December as the newly renovated TerryWhite Chemmart Albany Creek and will build on the legacy of Albany Creek Day & Night pharmacy, which had been actively working with local clubs, charities and schools for more than 30 years.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 was an incredibly challenging time for many in our local community. Each day, I heard so many heartbreaking stories of loss – financial, familial and personal.”

“In 2020 the team decided we needed to be the shining beacon of hope in the community. A place that people could still feel safe and looked after, despite the overwhelming feeling of entering an unknown time. Despite the chaos, panic, and drama, we wanted to offer calmness, care, and support.”

Paul said that his team wanted to extend hope to their tenant-family members in the Albany Market Place shopping complex, who were feeling the heartbreaking and deleterious consequences of the Federal Government’s restricted trading on their businesses.

“Jimmy, Matty, and the team at Wiseguy had worked relentlessly seven-day weeks for so many years to build their business. It was heartbreaking to see that they could potentially lose so much because of the new trading laws, which restricted them to takeaway only. I couldn’t stand to imagine our marketplace without them.” “Suddenly I had a lightbulb moment and realised that the pharmacy could compound two bulk supplies of hand sanitiser for Wiseguy to sell. The team spent hours sourcing raw ingredients, compounding, and transporting hand sanitiser between their lab, processing bunker, and pharmacy.”

“At the time there were no hand sanitisers or antibacterial products available in Brisbane. We encouraged Wiseguy to sell the hand sanitiser to patrons, which were hot commodities and flew off their shelf.”

“We’re pleased to have given a local business, our extended family, a spark of hope for their future. Even $400 in sales goes a long way for small businesses. We’re proud to be on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, supporting those in need and giving hope to Queenslanders during this tough time.”

“It was great to work closely with another community business during these unpredictable and anxious times. I look forward to supporting the local community for another 30+ years,” Paul said. Wiseguy is still trading and still serving great coffee and delicious, homemade treats, and supported TerryWhite Chemmart Albany Creek’s grand reopening last Saturday 11 December.  “It was great to work closely with another community business during these unpredictable and anxious times. I look forward to supporting the local community for another 30+ years,” Paul said. Wiseguy is still trading and still serving great coffee and delicious, homemade treats. This valued local pharmacy offers the community a range of health services, including vaccinations, medicine home deliveries, and compounding.

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