This greengrocer/mixed business premises has been taken over by new management, and while the new business shares some of the old one's characteristics, supplying specialty and gourmet products and catering for people with food intolerances, there are innovations too. Brassers offer a home delivery service which is free to Ararat.
The internal arrangement has changed with the cleaning products for sale being more visible, a better marketing strategy in my opinion.
The fresh produce is sourced from Wilson's Fruit & Vegetables, Ballarat.
There are cake decorating supplies, chutneys and olive oil, and icecreams in cones, plus a lot more so it would be possible to get what you want for the week from this one store. Unfortunately I find it a bit expensive to do that. I have been able to source a particular herbal tea here when unable to find it elsewhere in town, and the price was not prohibitive.
There is close easy parking, the shop is bright and clean, and the staff are pleasant. Shopping here is a nice experience.

Stawell Farmers Market is held on the last Sunday in the month 9am – 1 pm, except December by Stawell Agricultural Society Inc.
If you know to leave the Western Highway and drive into Stawell on London Road the venue is relatively easy to find although it is not well sign posted.

Like other farmers markets I have visited the concept of local seems a bit stretchy, apparently encompassing anywhere in Victoria. Be that as it may, this particular market fails to attract stallholders. There is a deficiency of variety and number which always disappoints me.

I would like to support local farmers but often there has been no point driving all the way to Stawell. There are reliable honey producers who are reasonably priced and the organic food stall, but they alone aren't enough, especially when I was ripped off by someone who sold me a “dormant” fig tree – it proved to be dead. With a normal shop I would have the option to go back and complain in the spring when my tree did not grow but with no knowledge of even the name of the person who sold me the dud, I am sunk. So, buyer beware.

And, don't arrive a quarter hour before closing time because like me you might find most sellers have packed, or are in the process of packing, to leave.
I got the impression their hearts are just not in it. Even the glossy advertising flyers available at the tourist information centre Ararat are last year's.

Unfortunately one of my teenagers had become stooped and round shouldered. It was suggested that this was a result of an injury lower down the back. Both Ararat and Stawell are served by very good chiropractors. We chose to go to W G Bowers after a recommendation. Certainly after a course of treatment, which was not long, the patient stands tall and straight and moves well. Wally also gave him advice on exercises to do to help keep his spine in good order. I am very pleased with the result.

Just like the old fashioned barber's shop, walk in for a hair cut anytime. The wait, if there is one, is rarely long so the rather hard seats don't matter. The price is low and from our experience the result is always good. The shop looks clean and tidy and the service polite and efficient.
There is disabled parking directly outside.

While they specialise in equestrian products the proprietors carry other things like dog, cat, and poultry food, and animal carriers or small cages. It is a conveniently placed and well set out store with parking at the door. For many years I have used this shop and the proprietors are very knowledgeable and helpful. They are unfailingly polite and helpful and will carry out to your vehicle.

There are many competitors in the field of rainwater tanks now. What impressed me about Bushmans was the delivery that it was prompt and on time by a man who obviously knew what he was doing, did it efficiently and quickly, and was nice to boot. As a driver he was very capable since he had to manoeuvre a large vehicle not just on my property near the house but before he got anywhere close had to navigate very poor gravel roads and a rough narrow ford.
The company provided a detailed installation guide which is easy to follow and very good advice about preparation for installation of the tank. While Bushmans have a huge range of products and many different sizes available I got a 920 gallon squat shaped rainwater tank to catch roof run off. There is a choice of colours, which can be nice; I settled on grey to try to have it blend better with the metal tank that was there already. The tank came with strainers, to both inlet and outlet, and all necessary fittings (as well they should).
There is a ten year warranty to fix or replace. I am glad to say I do not anticipate needing to use it as I have been satisfied with the product so far.

This Australian company makes more than transportable concrete water tanks: chemical storage, outside toilet and shower blocks, office or granny flats, and offers concrete tank renovation. In comparison with the concrete tank that has to be made on site with the attendant problems that entails Williams deliver a ready made unit to your property.
Having seen what can happen to plasti tanks exposed to wild fire and the spectacular spontaneous falling apart of the fit together kind, I wanted something more robust to hold 5,000 gallons.

Although I live in Victoria I had to turn to South Australia to get a concrete tank.
I made enquiries and arrangements by phone. Payment was straightforward enough and Williams supplied a concrete tank on time and installed fine, just as promised.
However, there was a leak. I did not want to interfere with the product and thereby possibly lose any claim for restitution so I telephoned the company. Some too-ing and fro-ing followed which was a bit annoying, but in the end I was promised someone would come to take a look. The hitch being that the someone had to be in the vicinity, and, as you know I am in Victoria and they are operating out of South Australia. In addition I was to empty the tank before he arrived so he could deal with whatever had to be done. I had to empty what water I had gained a couple of times before some turned up. My trees were happy. I was not so pleased especially when I had to miss an outing for which I had paid ahead in order to meet with the fellow.
He pronounced that the bottom outlet hadn't been fitted properly and all that needed to be done to fix it was to unscrew, wrap plumbing tape on the thread, and put it back. Simple. Did he bring tools or tape? Nooooo...
So, he came all the way from SA to inspect a leak unprepared to carry out even a minor repair. Hmmm.
Being half way competent myself I did what he described, having gained his okay to do so I had to assume it would not affect any warranty. Thank goodness I have not had to find out. The ill fitting tap has been the only problem.
Other than this little hurdle the tank has been just what I wanted and lived up to expectations.

This is by no means a super store like the one in Ballarat yet manages to cram in a large variety and range of products yet remain a light airy premises where it is easy to find your way around. The staff are eager to be helpful and will carry out to your car. There is plenty of close parking which is important when loading bales or 20 kg bags in one's vehicle.
The products I have bought are always fresh and prices are okay. Sometimes I am lucky enough to catch a special or promotional discount. Being open at the weekend has proved very useful to me on occasion and I appreciate that service.
A few years ago I purchased a large kennel from this store and remain pleased with it even after some wild weather. Neither my dog nor I have had any reason to complain about quality and she has been quite snug and dry in the winter.
An example of Catnip Pet Park is on display and sometimes you may glimpse the resident cat using it.
Besides horses, cats and dogs, the store caters for the feeding and care of many kinds of creatures including stock food, in amounts suitable to the backyard chook keeper or hobby farmer with only a small flock of sheep, alpaca or goats.
I oppose the sale of animals and birds from pet shops however I vouch for the fact that all the birds, cavies, rabbits, mice and rats I have seen for sale in this store have looked very healthy and well adjusted.

The role of a funeral director encompasses many and various activities: obtaining the signature of the attending professional who pronounced death and lodging it with the Registrar; transferring the body to their premises; help work out the budget and plans with the deceased's relatives (or executor), including religious or other memorial service and location; arrange with clergy and other officials such as at the cemetery. The director can help select music, compose announcements for the media, clothing, viewing, poems, readings and flowers, making the arrangements with a florist. The director also may supply acknowledgement cards, registers or memorial folders and transportation to and from the service.
I have no idea what quality or value for these services APF provides although their advertised complete packages are at highly competitive rates.

I have to say though that I consider the “Pensioner” part smacks more of clever marketing than anything else. The company advertises extensively in publications for Seniors and retired people. If the deceased was a poor pensioner or you are acting for one in organising a funeral when the estate is not large enough to cover the costs there are other organisations and agencies which will assist, some even supplying a dignified funeral service and cremation that is subsidised.

My circumstances were such that all that was required was for someone to collect the body from the hospital and deliver it to the crematorium with the essential paperwork. At the time I could find no cheaper than APF for a no frills arrangement.
I live 3 hours drive from Melbourne and the person had died in Dandenong, another hour across town. I was at a disadvantage in lots of ways so I appreciated that I could organise everything by telephone and email, and make payment direct into a bank account. The man on the end of the telephone line was immensely supportive and helpful.
I can't say that this arrangement was without hitch. There was a demand for all money upfront before the cremation would take place.I understand if they didn't want to be stuck with an unpaid account from a mysterious person up whoop-whoop yet I can imagine someone else in this situation being very distressed, feeling the deceased was sort of held to ransom.
I had very limited income so the bill was a stretch, especially as the executor involved was obstructive. Despite the requirement that a funeral/disposal has to come out of the estate the executor, who is a solicitor, was slow to reimburse me. (Another story, another Womow one day)
All the same I have to say that APF did accommodate me, and politely, which I can't say for other funeral directors I contacted who seemed miffed that I considered their prices too high for a basic disposal. – a couple of fellows go to the mortuary, put the body in the wagon, drive it to wherever and thence later to the crematorium: how much outlay is in that? In part I remain astonished at the expense however, I know expenses rarely are questioned when people are under stress.
There are options like cardboard coffins being offered by some undertakers. It is worth shopping around. Unfortunately when there has been a death people are not necessarily thinking straight. Grieving relatives often are very vulnerable and few people realise that proper disposal is essentially a health issue and in law there is very little one is required to do because once the person is dead he has no rights.
A person shouldn't be bullied into having to do "what is expected" nor have to pay large sums.
I am happy with the service and respect I got from this 100% Australian company.

The name says it all: Ranchos buys and sells secondhand things.
For me the prices are generally too high considering what the stuff is although I have bought some things I wanted after a friend with more nous than me negotiated a cheaper price.
I am aware that the way dealers turn a profit is to buy as low as possible and sell as high as they can. Frequently this is at least a 100% mark-up, often far more. A seller might get only 1/3rd of the final price which is rationalised as appropriate because the dealer has overheads and might be stuck with goods for a long time before they are sold. I have sold items to a secondhand dealer who told me straight what price she could afford to buy because her mark up had to be a certain amount. I respect truthfulness.
As an accidental seller to Ranchos I was amused. The dealer rocked up, apparently just passing by, as I was packing up my garage sale. It was hot. I was tired.(And sun burnt) The dealer was garrulous – told me about his generosity at an auction earlier and how understanding he was, complained about other businesses near his, pronounced that he never bargains, then immediately offered me half the marked price on a couple of things which were already very cheap. I really wanted to rid myself of the stuff, in fact the next stop for it was likely to be the charity donation bin, so I was willing to play along even if presenting as a soft touch. I like to let people hang themselves. I am not happy that he would pounce when the potential seller appears to be at a low ebb. I haven't been back to Ranchos to see what sort of mark-up is now on the stuff I sold. I suspect that if I were a naïve person I'd be crushed and feel cheated, suspecting I had fallen victim to manipulation.
And another thing, I consider it to be poor manners and attitude when a business provides only a mobile number as phoning from a land line is expensive; not everyone has a mobile or reliable reception for one.