It’s all a gift for Jean

By Sarah Schwager
A CRANBOURNE grandmother has fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening a gift and garden shop in Tooradin.
Jean Currie said she had always loved the idea of opening a gift store and had had her eye on the Tooradin shop for a while.
Tooradin Village Gift and Garden opened for business on Monday, specialising in grasses, native shrubs, outdoor and indoor ornaments, candles and souvenirs.
Mrs Currie has lived in Cranbourne for most of her life and raised a daughter and three sons there.
“I spent most of my life working in early intervention with children who are multiply impaired,” she said.
For the past six years she has worked at a plant factory in Cheltenham in sales and displays and landscaping inquiries.
Mrs Currie said after breaking her hand in two places she had had to change careers.
A lifelong interest in gardening and knowledge of the industry, from propagation to retail, led to the decision.
She said after seven months of not working she was glad to be busy setting up the store.
“The family has been great, helping with fencing and things,” she said.
“Without the manpower and skills of all these people this dream would never have been possible.”
A grand opening of the store, complete with a sausage sizzle, will be held all day on 15 July.
“I thought it would be fun to invite the locals down and have a chat,” Mrs Currie said. “I love a bit of a chat.”
The store is open five days from 10am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday. Hours will extend over summer.
Tooradin Village Gift and Garden is at 101 South Gippsland Highway, Tooradin, phone 5998 3863.