By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The Tooradin newsagency has been awarded My Local Community Newsagent Award with the town folk rallying behind their beloved newsagency.
The Tooradin newsagency, run by business partners Dianne Loft and Lyn Whittey, was nominated for the award by one or more members of the community.
“A newsagency can be a hub in the community and that shows through because there no metro finalists, so I think you can lose that atmosphere a bit in the sprawl of Melbourne,” Ms Loft said.
“We were really honoured, not only the accolades but that someone thought to nominate us.”
Ms Loft and Ms Whittey travelled to Crown Casino along with a few other members of the Tooradin community to the Victorian Newsagent’s Association’s awards night on Saturday 29 April.
The Tooradin newsagency beat out Kerang and Camperdown to take out the best community newsagency for the year award.
“It was amazing,” Ms Loft said.
“We were the first award presented, and it was a bit nerve-racking, but after the announcement we really got to enjoy the atmosphere.”
“We were on a high, so myself, Lyn and the ladies from the pharmacy got to have a girly night out.”
Ms Loft and Ms Whittey have been running the business for over 10 years between them and Ms Loft said she really felt a part of the fabric of Tooradin.
“Because we have been here a long time, you become part of the locals and you are appreciated by them,” she said.
“We enjoy what we do and they don’t have to go out of town for their basic needs, it’s very rewarding.”
