In the middle of a major health battle, Gloria Mahony now has one less worry – her well-known Albury bridal shop will remain open.
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In July, Mrs Mahony and her husband Gerry announced Jack and Jill Bridal would close in October because she had been diagnosed with brain cancer and planned to move closer to family.
“Decisions had to be made and we were looking at either selling or closing,” Mrs Mahony said.
“And we thought what we’ll do, we’ll advertise it for sale and if it hasn’t sold by that date, we would close.”
In the meantime, Border dressmaker Sandra Stewart became aware the shop’s future wasn’t secure.
“We drove past one day, saw it was going to close and thought, ‘No, that can’t close’, so here I am,” Ms Stewart said.
The two women had been strangers up until then.
“Sandi came along and we just hit it off,” Mrs Mahony said. “She was so interested and had the passion and everything else that we just thought, ‘This is the girl’.”
Friday saw the new owner take control of Jack and Jill Bridal, having worked alongside Mrs Mahony for the past six weeks.
“I just want to impart as much knowledge as I can to her and she will learn a lot too,” Mrs Mahony said.
“I’m just so happy for Sandi and Albury-Wodonga in general.
“You name it, we’ve had brides from everywhere.”
Mrs Mahony has been helping brides prepare for their big day for about 28 years, dating back to a time when leg of mutton sleeves were popular.
For the past 11 years, she has owned the Dean Street business.
Its feared closure prompted sad reactions from a generation of former customers.
“That’s what we’re getting back now, the debs and things like that from the mothers that I dressed,” she said.
“And women coming back for their wedding gown who bought deb gowns here, you know, 10 years before,” Ms Stewart added.
Mr and Mrs Mahony still hope to shift to Warrnambool early next year to be with family but for now the focus will be health, rest and ongoing treatment.
“Which knocks me around, but Sandi’s been beautiful, she just sends me home, she understands,” Mrs Mahony said. “It is pretty stressful, not just so much selling the business but our lives in general. That’s what it’s all about, trying to put a little bit back into me.”
All the existing staff at Jack and Jill Bridal will stay on, to Mrs Mahony’s satisfaction, and she wishes Ms Stewart well.
“I can’t wait for her to be in full flight,” the former owner said with a smile.
