By Melissa Coleman
Joint owners Alfina Gasparin and Julianne O’Brien from Lifestyle Footwear celebrated their fifth birthday last week with a month of prize giveaways and cupcakes.
The prize pack worth $350 included an in-store voucher plus vouchers for a local restaurant and more.
The second and third prizes were designer label shoes from Lifestyle Footwear.
The prizes was drawn on Monday 17 October and the lucky winners walked away tapping their feet.
1st prize Barbara Tapscott
2nd prize Peta Gow
3rd prize Adam Rose
A rich history extends back to 1971 when Terry Shannon foresaw not only a need for an independent locally owned store but also stability for his young family.
After leaving school in year 10 Terry worked in a Stanthorpe shoe store before being transferred to a different shop in Warwick called Keys Shoe Shop.
Daughter and Stanthorpe local Samantha Wantling said dad ended up going to Sydney to receive more training, and the Sydney branch wanted to keep him there.
“Mum was heavily pregnant with me and when Dad called her to tell the news, they decided that instead of being shifted around with the chain stores, they would open their own shoe shop.”
“Shoe Fashions was born,” she said.
Initially Terry made daily trips from Warwick to Stanthorpe before eventually making the 40-minute journey one last time with his growing family in tow to reside in his home town in the Granite Belt region.
“When the opportunity came to move to a bigger premises, that’s what dad did,” Samantha said.
“He moved to the current premises – right next door.”
Terry retired and sold Shoe Fashions on 30 June 2003.
“Maria and Alan Cameron bought the shop.”
Samantha recalled that her father used to fit both Julianne O’Brien and Alfina Gasparin’s school shoes.
“He also fitted their husband’s shoes and their parents.”
“I’m so glad to see that it’s come around full circle and is still locally owned,” Samantha said.
Now a new era in footwear has begun with Lifestyle Footwear offering a large range of shoes for the whole family and for all occasions.
“We have ladies, men’s and kids fashion shoes and handbags and accessories,” Alfina said.
“We have ladies’ and men’s work boots and school shoes for the children.”
“We also have sneakers for the whole family ranging from the tiniest feet to adults,” Alfina said.
“We bought the shop five years ago and it’s been our pleasure to provide quality products to the Stanthorpe region and the visitors who come to our town.”
“We also have an online store,” Alfina said.
Lifestyle Footwear showcase many brands including ROC, Planet Shoes, Armistice and Cassini.
