Glynn Lavender

As all our readers in Australia, and many in other parts of the world, have already heard, Camera Action Camera House is no longer in operation. Here, my friend Glynn Lavender, editor of PMA Australia Newsline, who worked for Camera Action for many years, shares his thoughts on this sad story.

Last week, as we have all no doubt heard, Camera Action Camera House, one of the biggest specialty stores in our country, went into liquidation. It is not for me to comment on why, who, when or what.

But as someone fairly intimate with the store, having worked in a number of roles there for a total of 14 years over my 28-year photo retail career, I feel I have something to say.

To many it is just another store closure. But to the staff, past and present, that have lived a good portion of their lives under that roof it has many more connotations.

In the movie ‘The Castle’ they state: It’s not a house, It’s a home. It’s got everything…it’s a place for the family to turn to, come back to.

Camera Action was not just a store, it was much more.

During my time there we lost loved employees to untimely, tragic deaths. Whilst the store still stood there always seemed to be a living connection to those two guys. That will no longer be the case. Last year they lost another long-term staff member to that insidious disease cancer. He was part of the furniture. The store always seemed that much emptier afterwards.

Several other past employees, the lifeblood of the character and substance that built the store have also passed. They will all be missed.

I resumed work with Camera Action in 1997 after returning to Melbourne from long term travel. During that trip I met my wife and mother of my children. It was the job that helped us move into our own flat and then our own house. It was a house that was furnished by money made from spivs alone. Looking around at pieces of furniture I see connections back to those heady first days of our relationship. All entwined around the thread of a store.

Over my years there, I saw relationships among staff start, flourish, and sometimes, lead to marriage and children. Connections that would never have happened had it not been for the store. I saw staff leave to try out careers as actors, photographers, models and many more. I saw many of those staff return, sometimes a little bruised by life, but welcomed back to the store and into ‘the family.’ Camera Action always seemed to be a place you could return to.

I saw some go on to lead lives as war photographers, film directors, artists and teachers. We all felt a little like we had some small part in their successes.

I saw people start great friendships with co-workers on their first day of work. I see (from Facebook stalking) that many of those friendships continue today.

Over my years I have seen hundreds of staff come and go. All touched and were touched by those around them and the environment in which they shared: Camera Action.

There are many new faces that have been through the store in the years since I was there. There are many there now I do not know. That doesn’t stop me feeling the pain and uncertainty they must be feeling.

Camera Action Camera House was not unique. There are stores like this all around the country. Yours is probably one too. It’s one of the things that make retailing such a great job to be in.

Sadly these bonds look to be no more at Camera Action. It feels like losing another staff member. No one is a winner here.