Each morning and afternoon, the two boys tackled their stacks of newspapers, their adolescent bodies anchored by the weight of the Herald Suns, mustering the strength to toss each bundle on to their neighbours’ doorsteps.
Mr Jones never strayed too far from his paper route, eventually becoming the owner of Mooroopna Newsagency, while Mr Wickham traded delivering papers for dispensing medications.
In 2025, however, life came full circle.
“It feels like I’m going back to my roots,” Mr Wickham said.
The long-standing Mooroopna Newsagency has found a new home and a new vision under Mr Wickham’s ownership.
The newsagency, a cornerstone of the community for over 70 years, has transitioned to a new format, now operating out of Wickham Pharmacy at 83 McLennan St after relocating from its previous spot at 84 McLennan St.
Mr Wickham, who has run his pharmacy for nearly 18 years, believes this merger will breathe new life into both businesses.
“In terms of Mooroopna, we’ve noticed a major shift in the way people shop because of the two big supermarkets next door,” he said.
“So, I thought the TattsLotto business would work quite well being near the supermarkets, and it’d bring in new customers to the pharmacy.”
While the merger presents new opportunities, it also necessitates making tough decisions.
The discontinuation of newspaper distribution was unfortunately one of them, as both print magazines and traditional papers have been on the decline.
But Mr Wickham is undaunted.
“It’s important to keep the newsagency alive in small towns,” he said.
“I’ve joined the Newsagency Association, and they’re looking at different ways newsagencies can adapt and stay relevant to the community’s needs.”
Mr Jones, the former owner for 21 years and now manager of Mooroopna Newsagency, is pleased that the community will continue to have access to these services, albeit in a new way.
“For me, the good thing is that the business still remains in the town,” he said.
“I always felt that Mooroopna is a small community, and what we have belongs to the community.
“It’s always been a desire and a struggle to make sure that everybody in the town utilises and shops local because we’re here for them, and if they don’t support the businesses, they won’t exist.”
Under Mr Wickham’s new business model and Mr Jones’ management, lottery services and pharmacy products have meshed, offering residents a refreshing shopping experience in Mooroopna.
It seems the paperboys of yore are still carrying that ‘Extra! Extra!’ mentality to keep the two pillars of the community strong.
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