“Recent comments on Bex powders (C8) reminded me of my student days, when I opened the newsagent at Campbell Parade, Bondi, at 6am, in the early ’70s,” writes Rob McPaul of Thirroul. “Each morning I had a customer waiting for me, and woe betide if I was even one minute late. His daily order was two Bex powders (we sold them both by the box and individually), two packs of Benson and Hedges and the Telegraph (sorry, Granny). He occasionally left a tip. I wonder how long he survived, with that start to the day.”

For John Mansell of Willoughby, the mention of Bex was a reminder of his first day working in a pharmacy: “Armed with my pharmacy degree, I strode out from the dispensary to help the lady at the counter. She asked, ‘Do you have cotton balls?’”

We’re shifting from the chemist to th

See Full Page