00:03On the edge of the mighty Murrumbidgee, the Tharwa General Store has long been a hub for
00:09the community.
00:10Tharwa was always a trading post.
00:12This was the idea that the Tharwa was the river crossing back in the late 1800s.
00:16For a century, three generations of Jefferies have been supplying not just food, fuel and
00:22farm supplies, but also something you can't put a price on.
00:26A good community needs to stand strong together and a place like Tharwa, the shop sort of
00:33holds it together even more than sort of government facilities or the hall or whatever, purely
00:38because it's always open, it's always on.
00:40Through droughts and flooding rain, fires and celebrations, the community has gathered here.
00:48Clary Jeffery bought the store in 1926.
00:51In 1948, his son Val inherited it when he was just 14.
00:57After almost 70 years, it was Kevin's turn, until now.
01:02Running the shop, the local shop for 100 years, gets to a point in time where the family can't
01:08keep going and we'd like to see somebody else take over.
01:11With Canberra creeping ever closer, community needs have changed.
01:15The fuel bowsers are dry, but the fridges are full.
01:18Locals and visitors drop in for footy tipping, a parcel or a pie.
01:22It's pretty common for locals to come in, pick up their parcels, buy a beer, have a chat
01:28and maybe the kids will get an ice cream.
01:30And now this slice of Tharwa is up for sale.
01:32If I can see some younger people come in and do something here, that would be fantastic.
01:36One door closes, but no doubt there's more in store for this loved local hub.
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