Zachary Havadjia, a Braidwood pharmacist known for a chat, is headed for warmer weather. Photo: Supplied.
A Braidwood pharmacist known for “a bit of a yarn” is heading interstate for a new challenge.
Raised on a property outside Nowra, on the South Coast, Zachary Havadjia made the move to capital country after finishing his studies.
“I knew of the area but prior to starting work here, I can’t say I had anything to do with Braidwood,” he told Region.
“I got offered a job straight out of university. I semi-knew the owners through university after meeting them a couple of times through job and career stuff.
“I’d always wanted to work in a small town because I hate the city, so it seemed like a perfect option!”
After an early start to the day, each workday would see him doing what he calls “the normal pharmacy stuff” – things like vaccinations, dispensing prescriptions and responding to people’s questions.
“We’re one of the first places to open, because we open at eight – it’s quite unusual for pharmacies,” he said.
“It allows people that work in Canberra – which a lot of people in Braidwood do – to come in before they go to work and drop stuff off on their way to Canberra to start work at nine.”
But for Mr Havadjia, having “a bit of a yarn” with people is his favourite part of the job.
“There’s always something on during the day that’s not just staying behind the counter,” he said.
“You’re usually in a room with someone doing a consultation of some sort, which gives you a chance to actually sit down with people.
“That’s how I ended up knowing a lot of people is through sitting in a room with them, just having a chat about their day.”
Though he knows his way around the town now, Mr Havadjia said settling into life and work in the area “didn’t happen overnight”.
“It did take time – and it was probably actually joining the rugby union club that probably kicked things off,” he said.
“Not only did I meet more people my age, but I became friends with the town.”
But while he’s loved Braidwood, he will soon be heading north – all the way to a small town in Queensland.
“[My wife and I] wanted an adventure, really. We wanted to do something different before we’ve got kids in the picture,” he said.
“When something like that comes up, [we thought] we should just take it and have that experience.”
Since posting an announcement on social media of his impending departure, Mr Havadjia said he was overwhelmed at the responses.
“I didn’t want to just disappear, but I didn’t expect that kind of response,” he said.
“A lot of them were talking about something as simple as knowing people’s names as they walk through the door. They know that you know who they are, what they’re going through, whether that’s health related or not health related.
“It’s then that, usually, they will bring up something, because they’re comfortable.”
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