Vale John Partridge
John Partridge, the owner of McDonalds Booksellers & Stationers in Maitland, has died.
Kay Drury of Affirm Press writes:
Today I will attend the funeral of my oldest bookseller, John Partridge, aged 94, who passed away last week. I suspect he was the oldest bookseller in Australia that so many people – publishers and reps – did not even know about.
I have been calling on John at McDonalds Booksellers & Stationers for over 20 years – and what a character he was! Such a wonderful and interesting gentleman.
There was no computer system in his shop, and he couldn’t care less about BookScan figures or what was popular. He knew his customers well and could hand-sell 300 copies of a book if he loved it. He sold to schools and libraries, and enriched the lives of the local community. He kept all information in his head and was so damn accurate with what was in stock and what he needed.
The shop had no eftpos machine until a few years ago; it was cash only, so customers would need to go to the ATM.
He would arrive in the shop at 7:30 am every day, even up until last week. The shop was his joy and the reason he got up every morning. He was the only surviving member of his family, and was one of five children.
Farewell, John Partridge – a man of another time, who went about his business quietly. I will miss you.
Meryl Swanson MP, Partridge’s niece, writes:
He is a Maitland institution, and for decades, he has provided books and stationery for our community, supplied schools and enriched the literary lives of locals and visitors alike, encouraging authors, writers, historians and photographers to capture our city and region.
McDonalds Booksellers & Stationers in Maitland is an institution, a destination and an inspiration; a portal to a different time and the key to a million adventures and stories.
John Partridge, the man responsible for this treasure in High Street, Maitland, sadly passed away this week.
He will be terribly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Category: Daily obituary
