Terry White and his wife Rhonda, the founders of what’s now known as Terry White Chemmart, are retiring after 65 years running one of Australia’s biggest chemist franchises.
Mr White, now 87, and his wife are both pharmacists and met on a training course before opening their first pharmacy in Clontarf, near Queensland’s Woody Point, in 1959, marrying two years later.
They grew their network of pharmacies until they established the Terry White Chemists franchise in 1994.
“It’s been a long journey,” Mr White said. “It’s such a detailed business, it takes time to extract yourself out of it because of licensing rules and things of that nature.
“But we’ve completed the sale of that part of the business and we are now looking forward to the next stage of our lives.”
Ms White said while pharmacies were accessible, they remained undervalued.
“At the heart of our success has always been our belief in people: our customers, our staff, and our partners,” she said.
“We’ve striven to make a difference in their lives and empower them to take charge of their health, their careers and their businesses.
“The legacy that Terry and I have built will live on through those we’ve been lucky to have met and to have been inspired by.”
Mr White will continue keeping busy compiling and digitising political documents for the Queensland State Library.
The Terry White Group of pharmacies ballooned to 225 stores nationally, then nearly doubled to more than 500 after a 2016 merger with Chemmart.
Despite the retirement, the Terry White name will remain on Terry White Chemmart store branding.
The Terry White Chemmart name was bought by EBOS Group in 2018.
Chief executive John Cullity told Seven Newsthat the couple were “true pioneers in the Australian pharmacy market.”
More Coverage
“Their legacy of innovation and unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence has not only shaped an industry but has positively impacted countless lives across the nation,” he said.
“Their vision, dedication, and the creation of TerryWhite Chemmart have left an indelible mark, and we are proud to continue carrying their torch forward.
“Their retirement marks the end of an era, but their enduring legacy will forever inspire us all.”
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7xaKlmqaTmny4u9GkZpqsXay8s7eOmqysrKKWuaqtzWaaoZ2dnsC1ecKhmKKmXZy2orrTrGSmmZqkv264yJ%2BcZpmeo7y2usKepJ6mpGS7psPSZqqtp6KufHp8lpudcplhm7NzrpNyapqbY2evdbCTmm6aaGdos6Kv