Good Neighbour Pharmacy Pakenham

07/12/2025

07/12/2025

A few people have asked us where the buildings in the train set came from. The answer is that they are 3D printed. This can take a while, with some of the larger more detailed models taking 5 days or more to print.

And then we paint them, often with makeup sponges.

05/12/2025

The lights are on but is anybody home? No, cause Matt hasn't painted them yet.

By the way, there are only twenty days till Christmas.

🎅🎅🎅

01/12/2025

It’s the 1st of December, can you believe it? I spent last week trying to come up with something clever and witty to write about how slack I have been with the page but its ok because Christmas is coming, but the words eluded me. So I shall steal some from George Bernard Shaw instead;

“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”

Oh yeah, the Christmas train is back.

Choo choo Neighbours.
Choo choo.

16/12/2024

Hello Neighbours!

Sorry you haven’t heard from us for a while, we have been a little busy moving! That’s right, our lease was up so we decided a change of scenery was in order. You can find us on Main Street (115 Main Street) in the Arcade next to the post office and behind the Telstra Shop. The best parking is usually in the car park out the back, accessed via Drake Place.

It is still the same old fashioned community pharmacy with the same friendly crew and same friendly service, just a new location and a fresh new look.

And, to answer the most important question everyone has; yes, the Christmas Train is back! It is still a work in progress but there is plenty there already to amuse the little ones. (And if they come in for a visit we might even have some Christmas lollies for them in honour of the season!).

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year,

The Good Neighbour Team.

05/01/2024

Hello Neighbours!

The advent of the new year has left me in something of a contemplative mood. What has got me lost in thought right now though is the cost of medicine. We talked about it a lot last year, as did the Government.

Speaking of the Government, did you know that the PBS co-payment went up around 5.5% on the first of January? The year before that the concession co-payment went up around 7.3%. In all, in just over 12 months the concessional co-payment has increased by just over 13%. For the elderly, the disabled, the most vulnerable people in our community. For them things just got a little bit harder.

The general co-payment of course came down last year from around $42 to $30 after a long campaign by the Pharmacy Guild. It is going up again. The Pharmacy Guild is continuing to advocate for the general co-payment to be further reduced to $19. A move we think will make a significant improvement in many people’s lives.

The Government continues to promote 60 day scripts (which are often 56 day scripts, but I digress), which they claim will help 6 million people (there are 25.5 million people in Australia). A policy that only helps a minority of people, some of the time, and that will leave others worse off through increasing pharmacy costs in other areas.

People like Karen that the ABC talks about in this article I will link below. Karen is a grandmother with terminal cancer. Her story is heartbreaking. She doesn’t qualify for 60 day scripts. In fact, many of her medications aren’t covered by the PBS at all. And the Government just increased her PBS co-payment. We should be making medicines for Karen more affordable, not less.

There are a couple of other interesting points in that article I would draw your attention to. Chronic Pain Australia found that one in four patients sometimes could not afford their medications. This is supported by a survey from the Australian Patients Association which states that nearly three in four Australians are either delaying or skipping basic health care for financial reasons. And we just made medicines more expensive. During a cost of living crisis.

The Government points out that their 60 day scripts and the reduced general co-payment have helped more than 2 million Australians. Which is less than 8% of the population, and which is certainly not the 6 million people the Government claimed would be better off under 60 day scripts. And people like Karen just end up paying more.

The ABC article I talk about above is at

Prescriptions may be subsidised but the cost of over-the-counter pharmacy products is adding up for the chronically ill.

03/01/2024

Hello Neighbours!

Happy New Year to you all!

2023 was an interesting year to say the least, full of ups and downs. And 2024 is looking to be no different. Last year we weathered the Government’s funding cuts, continued medication shortages and a retail downturn that economists say is not a recession, it only feels like one. Challenging. And 2024 looks to be more of the same.

But to say that it was all bad or even mostly bad is, of course, a lie.

We spent the year surrounded by, and working with some awesome people. And that makes all the difference.

So Neighbours, here’s to you for making it an awesome year, and here’s to an awesome 2024.

12/12/2023

Hello Neighbours!

Just a quick one to remind you all that there is a current Thunderstorm Asthma Warning in effect. For more information have a look at:

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/environmental-health/epidemic-thunderstorm-asthma-risk-forecast

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/thunderstorm-asthma

And some info on emergency asthma first aid:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/asthma-emergency-first-aid

Stay safe out there everyone.

Asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid. In an emergency, always call triple zero (000).

10/12/2023

I'm a little teapot,
Short and stout.
Here is my handle,
Here is my ... SNOUT?!

They're cute, they're quirky, they're more interesting than Matt's jokes. They are perfectly functional collector's teapots that look equally good on a tray next to the bickies serving up a cuppa, or on the shelf just looking adorable.

And at just $74.99 we think they make the perfect gift for that particular quirky individual!

And no more dad jokes! We banned Matt from the account. 😀

08/12/2023

Hello Neighbours!

Matt's jokes were getting out of hand so we told him to belt it. He didn't get it. On the plus side we now have some really nice leather belts. AND they are on SALE!

Obligatory marketing line: Don't get caught with your pants down this Christmas!

Sneaky dad joke: What is the best Christmas present?

A broken drum. It can't be beat!

07/12/2023

Hello Neighbours!

It has been pointed out to me that I owe you all an apology. We are 7 days into December and I have yet to post a single Christmas Dad Joke! For shame!

So, why did no one bid on Rudolph and Blitzen at the auction?

Because they were two-deer!

Oh, we will also be running different hours over the festive period, see below. Of interest to you might be that we will be open Sundays for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve for any last minute needs.

Till next time.

19/09/2023

Ahoy me Neighbours!

It do be international talk like a pirate day! So in celebration of this here auspicious day, thar be a special pirate flavoured dad joke for ye. Yaaaarrrrr!

What did the ocean say to the pirate?

Nothing, it just waved!