MOTORISTS were paying with cash when the price of petrol nudged $1 a litre in the first years of the 21st century and Tina Watts took over the service station in Boort.
But after 22 years, Tina is starting to say her goodbyes to the community and business where she has given hundreds of district youngsters a start in the workforce.
Tina’s last day running the Lakeside BP Cafe is next Monday and she says it is an emotional time ahead of moving to Bendigo to look after elderly parents.
“There have been a lot of changes over the years ... we were a Shell service station when I took over the business, people paid by cash, the fuel price was around $1 and sales of cigarettes were higher in those days,” she said.
“We’ve had hundreds of young people start on their workforce journey and it’s always been so important to have good staff. COVID was a tough time for us. Harvest period is always busy, too, and if the weather’s good there are lots of visitors”
Tina plans to compete in August’s Great Endeavour Rally raising funds for disability charity. She won the car rally three years ago.