FEATURE - Sheila’s Story continued

Life for Sheila revolved more around caring for John who had suffered another fall when the Post Office was still at the corner of Western Road and Main Street which further aggravated his left leg with the pin. It was at an annual check-up that the doctor ordered an x-ray. That x-ray showed that the pin had snapped and the two bones had slipped beside each other resulting in a 2 ½ inch difference between the two legs. 

They were told that an orthopaedic surgeon was flying out from England and would arrive the next day. The surgeon was able to repair the leg, but, in 2001, complications from his diabetes necessitated the amputation of John’s left leg. 

It was after this that doctors told Sheila she wouldn’t be able to continue to care for John at home, and he went into a nursing home until his death in March 2002. 

Shali worked for about 10 years at the Store, but the redevelopment of the town square brought changes that Shali was not enthusiastic about and she looked for a way to fill the gap after the store went upmarket and stopped offering the popular fast food.

Shali was 24 when she married Matt Carroll in 1998 and worked in the bakery until she took up an offer to purchase the café business beside the bakery from Max and Ion Ranson. It became the iconic Shali’s Café and opened on December 10, 2001. Sheila had told Shali that whatever she chose to do, Sheila would support her. 

Shali had completed an accountancy course, and was very familiar with ordering, dealing with suppliers and managing staff and she was delighted at the positive reception her burgers, fish and chips and sandwiches received. In fact, she hadn’t really taken into account the heavy demand for takeaways during the popular holiday season. 

In hindsight, it had been a crazy time to open, not just a gentle launch, but a full ‘thrown in the deep-end’. Although unwell, John was also able to be driven past Shali’s café, and take pride in his daughter’s accomplishments before his death in March 2002.

Sheila and John had created a business name in order to sell their macadamias to Nutworks at Yandina. After his death, Sheila was happy to close the business and sell the farm. 

Craig Farmiloe, a local businessman and vet purchased the farm. Matt and Shali had built a ‘shouse’ (a converted shed) on the property, but when the farm sold, they moved to Cynthia Hunt Drive at Flaxton.

Shali even took on a second shop at Maroochydore at a tourist park, but when it was redeveloped as an over 50s resort and the clientele changed, Shali decided the café was no longer viable. With the end of her marriage, the Flaxton home was sold, and Shali and Sheila bought a block of land at Nambour and built a four-bedroom brick home. 

These years for Sheila were busy as she worked alongside Shali making a wonderful range of curries and samosas. In 2019, after Sheila was involved in a car accident while driving up the Range from Nambour, Shali decided to sell everything and they rented a place closer to Shali’s Café along Balmoral Road for 12 months before moving into a tiny flatette behind The Bower Bird (now Ben Messina Landscapes Gallery) owned by Craig Farmiloe where they stayed for another 12 months.

Sheila’s eyes had been gradually deteriorating and she gave up driving and was grateful to live close by the shop, helping Shali when needed, but having more time for herself. When Craig Farmiloe decided that he didn’t want to continue offering his three-bedroom unit behind the one room studio as an Airbnb, Shali and Sheila took over the rent and moved in, along with a friend, Mary.

Shali expanded her business into the bakery shop around 2018 operating at first as two separate shops. However, with the arrival of Covid in 2020 changes had to be made to keep the business operational.  The bakery was then moved into the cafe side to enable Shali and Sheila to continue running the business by themselves when needed.  It proved to be so successful that it became a permanent change.

Four years later on June 30 2024, after almost 23 years, Shali decided the time had come to close the cafe and focus more on regaining a lifestyle for herself and her Mum, and also dedicating more time to caring for Sheila in her twilight years.

Just days later on July 4, Shali began work at the IGA Express. Shali quickly became a much-valued addition to IGA owner, Ann Wells’ team and brought fresh ideas to provide more ready-made meals and soon Shali’s curries were in the shop deli section, and of course Sheila helped. 

Customers too, were delighted to see Shali’s cheerful smile and enjoyed her business-like efficiency and helpfulness. 

Now twelve months since Shali began at the IGA, she and Sheila are looking forward to continuing to work with Ann’s team in a one-stop shop that is at the heart of Montville, a community they claimed, and that in turn, has claimed them. 

Remarkable Sheila, who is Mum, Mother, Ma, Mama, Mama Bear and Mother Bear to so many locals has finally shared her story and we can honour her spirit of resilience and tenacity, her hard work and gentle nature.