Kiama optometrist Joan Comber has been helping the community see clearly for more than 40 years. Joan’s business first opened in Edessa Arcade in 1977 before moving into Kiama Centrepoint in 1983. She remains a loyal tenant and was one of the first businesses to move into the centre, which holds many cherished memories for her and her family. 

Joan’s youngest son, Clayton, learned to walk in Centrepoint’s arcade and played on the floor of her optometry workshop. In a lovely twist of fate, Clayton now runs a cafe and bookshop, Bouquiniste, out of the same space. 

“I think it's wonderful that things have come full circle,” says Joan. “Clayton finds it quite ironic that all these years have gone by and he's now working in the shop he played in when he was a toddler.”

When Joan reflects on her own career of almost five decades, she marvels at how far she has come. Born in Malaysia, Joan and her family emigrated to Australia after her older brother moved here to study engineering.

“He told my Mum and Dad he had no intention of coming home, so we all followed him here,”  said Joan, who planned to study medicine. She got the required marks, but six years of university was not financially feasible. So she “played it safe” and started a science degree but found it “quite frustrating”. 

“There were thousands of us, and it was quite overwhelming,” she says. “So, a friend suggested optometry.” 

It was 1969 and the class was a small one, with just 11 students. “Our year was quite unusual at the time because 50 per cent of our group was female,” recalls Joan. 

After graduating in 1973, Joan began her career in Sydney before moving to the South Coast with her husband Arthur in 1976, where she took over the Warrawong Gibb & Beeman franchise. Joan had no intention of opening a second optometry store, but working for a large optical retailer had its challenges. When the opportunity to own an independent optometry business in Kiama came up, Joan took it, as it gave her the chance to provide a more personalised service. 

"Kiama was always going to be a part-time practice because I was already a franchise owner in Warrawong," says Joan. 

However, her business was quickly embraced by the Kiama community and, a year after it opened, Arthur quit his job in Sydney to work in the store as an optical mechanic, building, fixing and dispensing glasses.

“Arthur was a very practical hands-on person,” explains Joan. “When he was still working in Sydney, I was sending out my jobs to be done to another contractor. It was great to have him come on board and do the practical part of the optics.”

Optometry became a family affair. Joan’s sister moved to Australia from England in the late 1970s to help with the day-to-day running of the business. By 2006, Joan decided to focus solely on the Kiama store, with the help of her sister and Arthur.

"My sister still comes in to help me on a voluntary basis sending out appointment reminders, which I don't really get the time to do,” says Joan. 

Arthur continued to work alongside Joan until his passing in 2018. She admits it was “difficult to continue without Arthur by her side”, and was grateful when Clayton stepped in to help.  

“Clayton grew up watching, then helping Arthur when he was doing the mechanics,” says Joan. “I’m very thankful he continues to do what his Dad used to do for me, as well as running Bouquiniste.”

As an independent optometrist, Joan prides herself on making and dispensing glasses with Clayton’s help. She admits dispensing is a dying artform, with big franchises like OPSM and Specsavers sending glasses away to external contractors. 

“Not many places offer optometry as well as dispensing,” says Joan. “Along with bulk-billing, it's a service I am very grateful to still be able to provide, and the community of Kiama seem to really appreciate that. Clayton has been known to make up glasses and deliver them directly to customers.”

Joan credits her loyal customers and a sense of community for keeping her in business for so long. 

"I still have a passion to do optometry,” she says. “I think it's great to meet all sorts of people and help them with their visual problems. I have built some beautiful friendships over the many years of looking after customers. I have seen things come full circle; people I tested as children have now grown up and bring their children to me. It's quite rewarding in that sense.”

Joan says retirement is on the cards, but she won’t be putting her feet up anytime soon.

“When I first started working as an optometrist, I thought my retirement age would be 45," chuckles Joan. 

Whatever the future holds, there is no question that Joan will remain a stalwart of the Kiama community. Each year, from 1984 until 2016 when Arthur became unwell, the family would host an annual Christmas lunch for the community at Kiama Leagues Club.

“Clayton and my older son Brendon would entertain those who attended and play the golden oldies for us," laughs Joan. 

Brendon now owns a sound and lighting company and works part-time at the Kiama Leagues Club as an entertainment manager. Clayton is also a DJ when he finds time between working at Bouquiniste and Joan’s optometry business.

“Growing up in Kiama, Clayton and Brendon used to be known around town as Joan and Arthur's sons,” says Joan. 

“Now the tables have turned and I'm Brendon and Clayton's Mum! It's funny how history works, but I am very proud that they are such an important part of the community. They love Kiama, as do I.”