Emma Pritchard

For more than 70 years he dedicated his life to providing invaluable medical advice, reassurance, and guidance to hundreds of thousands of customers, but in late 2024, after a long and distinguished career in the pharmacy industry, 89-year-old Denis Green revealed he knew it was the right time to retire.

After serving his first customer in the early 1950s, and having spent the past 18 years working at Blooms The Chemist in Grafton Shoppingworld, the widely respected pharmacist, known for his devotion to his role and unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of those around him, along with his traditional attire which always included a white shirt, tie, and more recently a walking stick, completed his final professional duties behind the counter on November 30.

“I’d love to keep working, but I was ready for it (retirement), and it was the right time,” he explained.

After completing his Pharmacy Course through the University of Sydney in 1955, he managed Astills Pharmacy in Penrith for four years before purchasing his own pharmacy in the Blue Mountains township of Blaxland.

In 1971, Mr Green opened Cama House Pharmacy, and his dedication to his profession entwined with his kind and caring nature, sense of humour, and willingness to provide the highest standard of customer service endeared him to many.

After relocating to the Clarence Valley in 2006, Mr Green provided locum services to a number of local pharmacies before commencing work with Blooms The Chemist.

Over the decades, Mr Green said he has seen countless advancements and changes within the pharmacy industry, adding he has had the privilege of witnessing the positive impact that prompt and professional medical care and advice can have on individuals and the local community.

“Pharmacists used to make their own pills,” he revealed.

“We also mixed up our own powders and ointments, and now nearly everything is supplied to the stores.

“I can remember writing between 60 and 70 scripts each day, and they were hectic times, and all of the labels (for the medications) had to be typed on a typewriter, which was very time consuming.

“When a customer came in with a script, you’d say to them ‘come back in four hours’, and now, the new technology and practices which have been adopted mean more work is able to be completed within a much shorter timeframe.”

While he revealed the transition from using a typewriter to a computer, and navigating the many online systems was challenging, Mr Green said the priority of his customers always came first.

“My entire life has revolved around promoting and supporting health, and doing what I can for people,” he said.

“Pharmacists need to spend as much time as they can with people, because it’s not just a health service which is being provided.

“As a pharmacist, you’re educating people about their overall health and listening to them and reassuring them if they have any queries or concerns.

“Being a pharmacist, it’s a very important role, and you must carry out that role to the best of your ability.

“I’ve had 72 wonderful years in the pharmacy industry, and I’d love to see more people, especially younger people, consider it as a career option.”

Outside of the pharmacy industry, Mr Green is an active member of Grafton Rotary and remains involved with a number of community projects.

Clarence Valley based pharmacist Denis Green recently retired after working for over seven decades in the pharmacy industry. Image: contributed