Stuart Doolan has been in his business El Meato for 23 years. He wanted to let his loyal customers know that he was moving on due to health concerns.

“I have to get out to have a double hip replacement. All the years of being on my feet have taken their toll,” he said. 

He has been a butcher in Goulburn for 30 years, moving from Temora and working in Glen’s Butchery (opposite Target) for about eight years before opening El Meato. 

“I have have worked here six days a week for the past 23 years – which is longer that than I have had my kids,” he said. 

He has always been hands on with the business. 

“When I bought the shop I decided I would do it all myself and as such I have not had a lunch break in 23 years, but I also got to know everyone that came into the shop,” he said.

“I enjoyed the one on one contact and that is what I will miss - the customers. People who came in 20 years ago have kids and now I am serving them with their families. I enjoy the general banter with them.”

He said people were buying less meat because it is becoming too expensive.

“A lot of my sales used to be about five items or people buying a week’s worth of meat - now it is more like one item on the way home from work,” he said. He plans to stay in Goulburn.