THERE WAS a time when children ran to the corner milk bar to exchange handfuls of coins for red frogs, when a cafe lunch consisted of cheese on toast and when the milk bar owner was also a close friend.
For the people of Curtin, that time is now.
Not much has changed at the Curtin Milk Bar and Pizza since Vince Kalokerinos opened it in 1971 but this weekend, an era quietly ended as Viola Kalokerinos, 55, served her last shift as the owner.
Mrs Kalokerinos said her customers had changed her life over the 33 years she's worked there.
''When I came to Australia with my husband, I was 22 and I didn't speak any English,'' Mrs Kalokerinos said. ''But the community helped me to learn, they never made me feel bad, even if I didn't say the right words, they were there for me.''
When her husband died five years ago, more than 1000 people attended his funeral.
''I worked here with my husband but I was never involved in the business, I never went to the bank, I'd never cut a cheque in my life,'' she said. ''I couldn't have made it through without the love and support of the people here in the community.''
Her children John, Kathy and Matthew all worked at the milk bar before going to university and Mrs Kalokerinos said she felt blessed to have had them there.
Kathy Kalokerinos said the shop had become an indelible part of her personality.
''I taught at the school across the road for four years and the children said 'You're not a teacher, you're the lollipop lady' they called me Mrs Lollipop.''
The shop is being sold to a long-standing employee who Mrs Kalokerinos said was ''just like family''.
''I'm sure the shop will continue on the way it always has, and I'll still be making the fresh cakes and slices,'' Mrs Kalokerinos said.