I now have a better understanding of what the word aftermath means. At least insofar as it concerns those involved in whatever is to follow; those who will be picking up the pieces. I know that in the Grand Scheme of Things the fire in Wilmot is small potatoes, but in the ordinary lives of the good folks of Wilmot, the shop was important, and the loss significant. You only have to look at the faces of those who come to stand at the edge of the devastation and look to know that.
They are wondering what will happen…will the shop be rebuilt? They need it to be rebuilt. But they need more than reassurance that there will be a new shop; they need petrol, and bread, and milk, and newspapers NOW. The shop was where they met friends, had a coffee, did business… “Hey, John, how’s it going? Say, I’m having a bit of trouble with… Have you still got some spare… I could borrow?”
As one of the players in the Aftermath, I am acutely aware that the immediate needs of the community are not automatically a part of the legal and financial considerations that the decision-makers will be addressing. I am constantly being reminded by those around me–family and friends who have my interests in mind– that I need to plan and decide, and, indeed, act in my own best interest. I know that, I really do. But how can my best interest not include the interests of the community I want to become a part of?
Meanwhile, I wait. The attorneys are in charge now. At least they are the actors currently on centre stage. I believe we all have a wish to see the shop re-commence trading–albeit on a very limited basis, out of a temporary mobile shed or such–but the devil is always in the detail. Time being one face of the beast, money being another. I hate this!
Then there is another dilemma: if things work out such that I can rebuild the shop, then I have to decide HOW to rebuild it. Do I follow my instincts and try to recreate an (the) old country store? Or do I take the advice of some advisors and accept–on behalf of the community–that their historic old store is gone. Completely gone. Do I build a new concept building that is energy efficient, bushfire safe, and financially practical? Does it even matter?
Meanwhile, I wait… MM
Ghost of the Wilmot Country Store
The Meandering Matriarch 
SueEllen,
I sincerely hope you can make something from the ashes. Have been off doing a little research project. Managed to hear the gossip though. Its comforting to know that some things never change, even when much rolling of the eyes is involved. The area between Forth and Cradle Mountain and Sheffield and Cradle Mountain is filled with many good people. I realise that you must wait on not only Andrew and Pauline who have left the state but on the police as well. It must be extremely difficult for you. Hope it works out.
Good luck with this, follow your heart
Thanks, David. I’m trying to do so. I’ve learned it doesn’t work for me to use my head instead of my heart, despite much advice to the contrary.
Widdershins,
if that was aimed this way it’s not a separation of self. I could sit here beating my breast but it wouldn’t achieve anything. Just read a stupid story in todays Advocate Newspaper. They will flog this story unto death.
http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/2052537/wilmot-worries-after-country-store-loss/?cs=87
I can think of Andrew and Pauline, (and Evan), and the owners before them, Philip and Samantha, or the owners before them, Lindsay & Veronique, or the owners before them, Fiona and Shane, but it doesn’t help does it?
I know the people who took the fire photos. I know the older gentleman in the photo taken during the fire (Hi, Jim). We can sit back and mourn what was and yet still think ahead. By the way, this phoenix has risen from the ashes before. Don’t take my word for it. Check Trove. The loss by fire of the store was reported in the Advocate Newspaper on the 8th November 1921 and in the Zeehan and Dundas Herald of the 9th November 1921.
Dear Sue, your thoughts about community are spot on. If you were in japan the community would rebuild the store. Whilst I wouldn’t expect that, I think you may have the good will of the community behind you to begin. You should avoid the simple modern over engineered sterile approach that the insurance company will fund. Your replacement needs to have the architectural language of local community store. A timber verandah will be part of that. I would see if there are any local carpenters and other tradesmen and involve them in its construction. I am happy to help with the design and planning of a local community store. It guess it is likely that it will be 18 months before you trade in a new building, I think it important to have temporary operations ASAP so your community doesn’t change its habits.
Your friend Graeme Corney
Thanks, Graeme. I’ve had you in mind from the beginning…hoping to involve you in the project. Your comments on community, and on the need to commence trading ASAP mirror my own thoughts…we are definitely on the same page! I look forward to working with you on the project — IF I have the opportunity to rebuild the shop…that is yet to be determined. Cheers!
I think you need to opt for what’s going to work for you, with a few reminders of what was there previously in terms of photographs, or the odd artefact. Hope you can get something temporary as anything that involves lawyers can take forever.
Thanks. I’m still considering all options while I wait to see if I’m going to be able to exercise any of them… Whatever happens, I will try to get something up and going for the community to have some sort of facility ASAP.
Does this mean that you are the Hobart lady who was in the process of buying the shop? I hadn’t enquired too closely in Wilmot as, to be frank, we get new owners every few years.
You are right about it being the heart of Wilmot. The village will die without it. Just working out what will happen with the mail is a headache. The fuel tanks and pumps should be fine. The electrics to work them should be a days work to replace.
I have been pondering your “to rebuild a replica” or not. The chalet purportedly built by Gustav Weindorfer inside Cradle Mtn National Park is actually a replica of the original, and not a terribly good one at that. You could ask the locals but that can be fraught with danger, if you get opposing camps. You could replicate the façade only. You should be the one to decide, whichever way you go. The area will open their arms to anyone who brings the heart back.
Thank you for that, Lu. Yes, I’m the Hobart lady who was to take over this Friday. I have every intention of rebuilding, and will try to get some sort of temporary facility in place to start trading immediately on a very limited scale.
It sounds like you are local–I hope to meet you soon!
SueEllen,
Yes, I am indeed a local. My husband and I live some distance away (between Wilmot and Cradle Mountain) but are in the Wilmot catchment area for mail, shop etc. The news of the fire was a surreal moment. We just sat and stared at each other, speechless. I have been all over the lost one, including the residence, and it took a few days for us to realise all that had been lost. I remember a mob of us travelling to Devonport when Andrew and Pauline were seeking a Bottle Shop license, to support them. There were several people against it, but they put their objections in writing and didn’t attend the hearing. Speaking personally, we were sick of the young of the area who work at various places at Cradle buying a 6 pack when they finished work and drinking it on the way home, chucking bottles out the window and/or crashing their vehicles. Adding a bottle shop meant they could get back to Wilmot and buy their 6 pack, with the incentive being that it wasn’t the $5.00 per stubby charged at Cradle. We didn’t have to collect beer cans daily. And they didn’t crash. It was a typical village voice win. It’s these moments you remember. The applause from everyone when the license was approved. Purely from a practical viewpoint, I wonder if the Bakery could be used in the meantime. I understand that it is currently leased, but is only opening 3 days a week when the owners come in to bake etc. They have power, fridges, a partial liquor licence (onsite guests only- could be upgraded?). It isn’t practical to use the school. It isn’t open yet and has limited hours only anyway. The mail isn’t sufficiently well funded to provide an income in the short term. If you are going to rebuild, you need an income during that time, hence you need other facilities. I don’t know what equipment is available in the Town Hall, but there must be some food equipment there from previous events held there. Kentish Council should be pressured to make any use of it attractive to you.
I am not even contemplating telling you what to do. LOL. I can hope that some use would finally be made of the vacant piece of land next to the shop behind the fuel pumps, but any rebuild is a major task and that is probably incidental. I am only posting some possible alternatives for business premises because you have lost the historic/goodwill part of the sale, which also has to affect what you are buying as it is now simply a vacant lot that needs to be cleared, and you need an income during any rebuild period anyway.
Thank you, Lu, for your thoughtful and helpful comments. I am — and am more than willing to– consider any and every possibility. All that is holding it up is for a decision to be made re whether or not I am to be the one to carry on. It may be that Andrew and Pauline do not wish to rebuild and will simply be paid out by their insurance company. In that case it would be possible for me to buy that now-vacant lot and go from there. I would immediately arrange to begin trading, albeit at a basic level. At least we could provide petrol, Post, papers, Bread and milk at first, and expand from there. It will take some considerable time for the new shop, of course, but I would get as much as possible up and running in the meantime. Wish me luck!
Waiting for the suits to get their 2 cents in is the pits.
You can still recreate the old store look and feel using energy efficient principles … best of both worlds.
Funny how some folk can separate their sense of themselves from their community, whatever and wherever it may be, without understanding that they’re intertwined, and to focus on one at the expense of the other just doesn’t work.
Yes to almost all of the above. I have to say that my solicitor is very involved and supportive. I’m very grateful to have his help. The old store look and feel is not entirely compatible with the alternative approach I’m considering, but am also trolling for a cost-effective hybrid of the two.
My head is about to explode…