By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
CRANBOURNE Kmart shoppers were left to continue their browsing after the store failed to remind them to respect the fallen Diggers on Remembrance Day.
For the first time in 25 years the store forgot to mark the solemn occasion on Wednesday while the rest of the centre was stopped and listening to the Last Post.
Disgusted staff took to social media on Wednesday night to vent their frustrations.
But the company said the un-Australian hiccup was caused because the administration manager was absent and missed the company’s reminder email.
A Kmart Cranbourne staff member, who wishes to remain anonymous, fearing they will lose their job, said they were “disgraced” and called on the company to make a donation to the RSL Poppy Appeal.
They said that on previous years staff had lined up in the middle of the store with bowed heads and taken the minute to remember the Diggers’ sacrifice.
“When I asked another member of staff why a minute’s silence wasn’t taken they said the manager is too cheap to stop for a minute.”
An email from Kmart head office was sent in the early hours of Wednesday 11 November to stores across the country outlining step by step instructions on how to conduct the minute’s silence over the PA system.
“Unfortunately, Cranbourne’s administration manager was away and the emails regarding Remembrance Day were not read in time for the Kmart protocol to be followed by 11am,” a spokeswoman said.
Several staff members expressed their disgust on Facebook after the incident.
“So ashamed that nothing was put in place for the 11th hour, music didn’t stop, and all continued – not happy.”
“Fr***en typical – the almighty dollar is more ‘important’ than honouring those that fought for our country and died for it to be free.”
“Yes disgusting, I stood there for a minute’s silence but it wasn’t silent.”
Peter Konidaris has been the manager at the store for about two months and was unwilling to talk about the incident.
“I can’t make any comment, you will have to contact Kmart head office.”
But staff have blamed him for the mistake.
“He has been manager two months. How low can one person be,” they said.
“It’s just not on and it’s not setting an example to our shoppers, you could walk out of Kmart and the whole Cranbourne Park centre was silent, except for Kmart.”
Management company Vicinity Centres has confirmed that Cranbourne Park shoppers were asked to stop for a minute’s silence over the loud speaker and the Last Post was also played.
Were you in Kmart Cranbourne on Remembrance Day? What do you think?
