Ben swaps the cash till for a camera

ONE of Melbourne’s best-known shopkeepers has rung his last cash till after deciding to call it a day as manager of the Spar

Ben Willans has been at the Spar on the corner of Derby Road and Chapel Street for the past 27 years, but is now moving on to pastures new

He said the farewell after so many years was emotional but it was time to start a new chapter, developing his career as a photographer – with one wedding already booked in the diary – and also joining forces in his partner Amy’s flourishing business: HomeMaid of Melbourne

“I’m excited, with slight anxiety, obviously, because I’ve done this for so long,” he said “I’m really excited with the possibilities of Amy’s business and what I can do myself I’m doing this to free up more time in my life to do what I want to do and if I can make money with my hobby, that’s everyone’s dream!”

Originally from Hull, Ben moved down to Ticknall with his family as a child, when his father got a job at Rolls-Royce His mother, Sue Willans, was well known to many in this area as a teacher at Melbourne Junior School

Life at the Spar started for Ben in 1996, when he got his first part-time job

After about five years, he became manager – a job he has done ever since, working long hours to run a busy shop in the heart of the community