Chapter closes for TORQUAY BOOKS owner Rosemary Featherston

Rosemary Featherston opened Torquay Books with a five-year retirement plan in place, that was over 14 years ago and now she said, it’s time to move on.

“I started thinking about retiring seriously in February of this year. I’m heading towards 72, I thought it was about time to move on and spend some more time with my grandchildren,” she said.

“I’ve been working full time at the book store for just over 14 years. I’ve built a legacy that I’m very proud of; we’ve had lots of wonderful people come in over the past week telling me how grateful they are that Torquay has a book shop.

“The legacy I’ll take with me is that people are just so generous, Torquay people are so supportive and wanted me to succeed.”

Mrs Featherston said she prides herself and the team on the regular events they’ve hosted over the years to support and promote both local and international authors.

“We’ve supported lots of local, Australia-wide and overseas authors, we’ve supported them and had some wonderful events. Authors do it tough, you have to be really passionate about wanting to write,” she said.

Mrs Featherston said having watched toddlers grow into teens, and customers embrace the wonder purchasing and reading a new book can bring, she’s ready for her next chapter.

“I knew the time had come, I wanted to retire on a high note. The store is in a new lovely bright location, it’s rolling along smoothly and now is the time to move on myself.

“So many wonderful customers have popped in over the week to say goodbye and thank you. They’ve told me that I’ve inspired their children to read, and I’ve thanked them for helping me through tough times business wise over the years.”

Spending more time with her grandchildren, get a dog and head off travelling with her husband is now on her to-do-list.

“After reading Hannah Kent, Burial Rights (set in Iceland), that’s inspired us to go travelling next year to Scandinavia,” she said.

“I already read a lot, but I imagine I will continue to read. I couldn’t imagine not having a pile of books waiting to be read. I’ve been overcome by the amount of kindness been shown to me the last couple of weeks and people going out of their way to say goodbye, it’s been lovely.”