By MARC MCGOWAN
ASTUTE decisions about two decades ago – combined with high-quality produce and a friendly nature – helped a Belgrave butcher celebrate 30 years in business on Friday.
Bill Woolnough and his Bill’s of Belgrave business have become hills institutions in a three-decade association with the community.
But there were many times early in his venture that Mr Woolnough thought his business would not last, particularly when the other two butchers in town closed down.
“I started in ’84 and came to this shop in ’92 after being across the road for eight years,” he told the Mail last week.
“There were two of us left in town by that stage and we were both struggling and the guy over here wanted to sell up and I didn’t want somebody else to get it.
“The shop I was in was very rundown and needed a lot of money spent on it, so it was better off closing mine down and trying to combine the two.”
Mr Woolnough’s longevity owes to more than just being the last butcher standing.
His business took a turn for the better when he started making his own smallgoods and selling free range meat, or as close to organic as he could.
Bill’s of Belgrave was a one-man operation until then, but has steadily increased to the point where he now works with three full-time butchers and four casuals.
One of those employees, Stuart Hamilton, said Mr Woolnough’s staff, just like his loyal customer base, loved him.
“He’s a ripper, and fair dinkum the most easygoing bloke you could ever meet,” Mr Hamilton said.
“He’s a good family man and does lots for everyone and never asks for anything in return.”
Mr Woolnough, who has three children with wife Rhonda, and three grandchildren, has made a concerted effort to be part of the community and provides weekly meat trays for Belgrave Football Club.
He is also generous with local schools.
“You’ve got to get amongst them, because they’re the people that keep the business going. You have to support them,” Mr Woolnough said.
“We know most of our customers by name and we know most of their kids by name.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing a lot of kids who used to come in with their mum and dad and get a free slice of ‘stras’, now bringing their kids in for the same thing.”
Mr Woolnough was still thinking of his customers when it came to celebrating his milestone, offering a special prize for his Facebook community, which numbers nearly 800.
Grand finals, the start of the barbecue season and the need to start preparing for Christmas soon mean he does not have time to celebrate his achievement.
That leaves the million-dollar question: what is Mr Woolnough’s favourite cut of meat?
“I love a nice porterhouse steak,” he said.
“I keep it nice and simple – nothing fancy – and I’ll eat one of those once a fortnight.”
