DEDICATED, hard-working and generous.
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These are three words that could be used to sum up Murrurundi couple Maureen and Paul Bowd. The duo have spent the past 15 years running Dooley’s Store in Mayne Street after previously owning a newsagency and Scone Takeaway.
They are heavily involved in the local community, sponsoring events such as the Junior King of the Ranges and Murrurundi Cup, which is held in Quirindi on Boxing Day, as well as touch football teams and several schools.
Mrs Bowd said there was plenty of excitement surrounding local businesses.
“We’ve got a couple of new businesses open now; the town is really starting to buzz,” she said.
“There is a real change at the moment; we’ve seen this every five years or so since we moved here.
“You’ve got to put your heart and soul into your business, and everyone is really starting to work together.
“Trade is about 90 per cent local, but we get a lot of nice comments from people passing through who say what a nice spot we’ve got.
“They’ll often keep coming back for a visit.” Despite already offering numerous services, Dooley’s Store has added a Community Postal Agency (CPA) to the list after Murrurundi Post Office ceased trading at the end of April. The facility provides postage stamp sales, mail collections, and postage assessments.
“Everyone was very concerned when the post office closed; you lose your post office, you lose your town,” Mrs Bowd said.
“But this Community Postal Agency is doing well, we are really happy. It brings everyone into the one hub.”
However, the CPA excludes bill paying, banking, and passport office services.
Residents previously voiced their concerns over the post office’s closure, believing it would be a severe downgrade for the community.
Local Keith Cole told politicians that the town’s elderly population relied on a number of services which had been cut.
“The majority of residents are neither familiar with using internet nor telephone to pay bills or for other services and therefore require, and are entitled to, counter services,” he said at the time.