‘Over century combined service’

A STEADY stream of well-wishers has been passing through the doors of Revesby Jewellers keen to farewell owner Max Garthe ahead of his retirement after six decades and the business closure on December 15.
One of those has been a regular for over 50 years – Clarke National Realty owner Garry Clarke – to whom Max, 87, will soon pass on the baton to as the longest business proprietor in Revesby.
Catching up as much as possible in the last few weeks while they’re still only a five-minute walk away from each other, Garry and Max, as they say, go way back.
“We’ve always been great friends,” Max said.
Garry, 72, was in his early 20s when they met and Revesby Jewellers was situated in the former menswear shop on Selems Parade while Clarke National Realty was a few doors down but is now over the road.
When Garry was thinking of proposing to wife Beth, it was Max’s wife Joan who he spoke to about it first and organised the rings.
Garry describes Joan, who sadly passed away in 1991 following an armed robbery at the store, and Max as true salt-of-the-earth people.
“Joan really was the backbone of the business,” Garry said.
“She was such a wonderful person who is fondly remembered.”
Not only do Max and Garry operate businesses comprising three generations of family, they have been looking after generations of the same families in their combined century of service at Revesby, and say the growth in the area has been mind-boggling.
“We used to have two coffee shops and now we’ve got two dozen,” Garry said.
“I think it’s great but what I’m not happy about is the attitude of the banks, shutting down branches.
“There are younger families moving in but many residents are older and rely on the face-to-face service you expect from your bank.
“It’s such a shame putting profits before people.”
Garry said there were no ’tricks of the trade’ when it came to staying in business for so long and Max agrees.
“It’s about good service and being fair; we both get a lot of business from referrals from happy customers and have done for years,” he said.
Garry said he would miss visiting Max on the shopping strip but would not be saying goodbye.
“We’ll certainly be catching up, you’d never meet another like Max, a one-of-a-kind, old-style businessman where honesty and integrity are everything,” he said.