More than just a business

What started out as a way to diversify income has turned into a lifesaving concept for Lee-ann Simpson.

SMILE: Citra Coad, Lily Simpson with Molly, Lee-ann Simpson and Alysia Johnston from Vintage Roads. Picture: Matthew Purcell

WHAT started out as a way to diversify income has turned into a lifesaving concept for Lee-ann Simpson.

"It's saved our life. It has saved my life.”

That's how Lee-ann feels about her business, Vintage Roads, which she started after things turned sour at her and her husband's tomato farm.

It first opened next to the Ballandean General Store, moved to the old Shiraz restaurant and has found a new home on Folkestone St.

"We closed up there and found this place in town which was the same amount of rent and then rebranded.

"The reason we got into this business is we really had some unfortunate stuff happen on the farm and went broke,” Lee-ann said.

She and husband Michael are commercial tomato growers who run Simpson's Produce.

"We used to main supply Coles and we lost our market into Coles and had to dump a lot of produce and went broke doing it.

"We've spent the last four years paying back debt.”

But the continuing drought has only added to their woes. After finally finding their feet, this season has been devastating.

"We don't even know if we can plant next season. It's been really, really hard. I think we're like 20,000 boxes down on production.

"The tomato price did go up this season, but you've got all the added expense of carting water and everything that goes with drought. I don't know what we're going to do next year. I don't think the district itself understands the implications of what next year is going to bring if the farmers can't plant,” she said.

Husband Michael is a fifth-generation Ballandean farmer. Lee-ann said it had been a struggle watching him pour blood, sweat and tears into production, for minimal outcome.

"When things went south, I started selling off the furniture in our house, bought some more and sold it again. I went 'well there's value in stuff people don't want'.

"You could say this shop saved me. If we can just make enough money in this shop every day I know the kids are getting fed. I know that's not how you run a business, but for us it has been a necessity.

"It's saved our life. It has saved my life. I don't even know how we're still here. Some days I go 'how the hell did we get through?'.

She said the community support had been brilliant. They run an in-store crochet club, informal writers' group and chess club. Lee-ann said it was great to give back to a community that had supported her family.

Vintage Roads is at 97aFolkestone St.

- Matthew Purcell, Stanthorpe Border Post