Delivering_The_News

    The boom years of the 1960s lead into the inflation years of the 1970s. The value of stock had risen to $10,500 by June 1973 and wages had doubled since 1966 to an average of $100 per week. The Sun which had risen to 5c a copy in 1969 had gone to 9c by June 1975 and 15c by March 1980. The Weekly Times also experienced rapid rises in price - 8c in 1970, 15c by August 1974 to 20c in April 1980! Other goods rose in price accordingly. Often new stocks would cost as much as the retail price of the goods they were replacing. This is reflected in the stock figures which by 1983 had risen to nearly $60,000.

    Staff during this period included Diane McLean, Patricia Hanlon, Norah Gregor and Petria McManus. Loryl left the newsagency to join her mother in the Drapery business at the end of 1970 as Keva, completing his schooling, joined his father in the newsagency.

    On June 20, 1972 the second fire in the history of the newsagency occurred when a burglar failing to see the stocks of torches on the shelves set a fire in the office to see what he was doing! After removing a quantity of watches, pens and a small amount of money and heaving a brick through the unlocked glass showcases he left via the back door without extinguishing the blaze. Fortunately a young man returning home at 11.30 pm noticed the blaze and raised the alarm and although the local fire brigade quickly had the fire under control much of the stock and business records were destroyed by the combination of fire, smoke and water. Business continued as usual the next day however, from the office of Australian Estates next door. The burglar, an itinerant labourer was duly apprehended after being seen earlier that night loitering in the vicinity and much of the stolen goods recovered.

A second robbery occurred on the night of May 1, 1975 when the front door was jemmied open and a quantity of watches, clocks, cigarettes and tools were taken. Unfortunately this was performed by a more professional gang and there were other burglaries in the area the same night. Police were unsuccessful in apprehending the culprits. This second incident prompted the installation of a burglar alarm system and for some time there were no similar occurrences.

In September of the same year Mr and Mrs Ian Templeton decided to dispose of their Sports
and Electrical Store and retire to Hervey Bay in Queensland. The new proprietor had no
interest in their toy department so it was offered to the Lloyds who readily accepted.
A decision was made to enlarge the premises by removing the wall between the newsagency
and Australian Estates so an alternative office was procured for Australian Estates next to
Sea Lake Development. Local builder Bob Collier, brother of the original builder, Alan, was
engaged to carry out the renovations, and a fine toy department was established.

Prices continued to escalate. Woman's Day, 30c in 1974 had doubled by August 1980,
T.V. Week, 25c in 1974 had risen to 40c by September 1977 and 50c by 1980. Wages in
1979 had gone up by over 50% since 1974 to an average of $255 per week. For the first time
in its existence the business went into an overdraft situation. Moves were made to trim
customer accounts. Accounts previously sent out only twice a year were first issued quarterly
and then bi-monthly in an attempt to reduce the debt. Staff in the 1970s included Betty
Buckingham for her second term, Jenny White, Joanne McInerney, Margaret Caldwell,
Patricia Clohesy, Anne Clohesy and their mother Veronica Clohesy. Circulation of the
Guardian began in Sea Lake in the mid 1970s and quickly became the third most read
newspaper in the town behind the Sun and the Sea Lake and Wycheproof Times-Ensign.