Beryl celebrates 45 years of serving up tuck shop classics

A school’s tuck shop convener, who has spent 45 years behind the counter, shares how tasty treats have changed.

In her many years serving at the Harristown State School tuck shop, Beryl Nicholson has seen cream buns axed from the menu, while pies and sausage rolls have remained ever popular.

Ms Nicholson yesterday celebrated her 45th year with the school, having served as a tuck shop volunteer and then convener since 1976.

She decided to join the team as her daughter started preschool, and although times have changed, much of the tuckshop has remained the same.

“The tuck shop has had a paint job inside since I’ve been here and we’ve had a couple of new pie warmers – those are some of the main things that have been done,” she said.

“Other than that it hasn’t changed much since I’ve been convener.”

ORDER UP: Beryl Nicholson is celebrating 45 years as the tuck shop convener at Harristown State School. Picture: Nev Madsen

She said parts of the menu had also made it through the test of time.

“We’ve taken out lollies, cans of soft drink, cream buns, vanilla slices and doughnuts but we still have patty cakes, lamingtons and pikelets which I make here,” she said.

“The cream buns used to go like wildfire back then, but kids still stick to the old pie or sausage roll now – you can’t get away from that.

“The pies were $2.50 at one stage but they’re up to $3.50 now.”

Nowadays Ms Nicholson runs the tuck shop on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, serving on average 80 to 100 students a day, with proceeds going to the school’s P and C committee.

“It’s interesting (how the people change), I’m actually serving some of the children now of the children I used to serve,” she said.

“I enjoyed watching the kids grow up, from prep right to Grade 6, you would see them rising and getting higher and higher above the counter when they came down.”

Ms Nicholson said she had enjoyed her time with the tuck shop but would be finishing up at the end of the year.

“My wish was to see my third grandchild who is at the school now enter high school and she goes at the end of this year,” she said.