General News
17 May, 2026
End of Borsato era at El Arish
AFTER more than six decades at the heart of El Arish life, the Borsato family has severed their links to the small town, marking the end of an era defined by service, connection and unwavering community spirit.
he reins to new owners Manda and Hetal (surname withheld), she hopes the El Arish post office run by the family for decades will continue to bring people together, just as her parents intended.
“Local businesses are the heartbeat of small towns like El Arish. They create opportunities, bring people together and help our community thrive,” Ms Kirke said.
“It’s inspiring to see new entrepreneurs invest in our town and we’re delighted to welcome Manda and Hetal as they make El Arish their home.”
For generations of locals who grew up visiting the store, the Borsato legacy remains woven into the story of El Arish itself.
The Borsato story began in 1962 when Valerio (Val) Borsato, originally from Busco, Italy, and his wife Santina (née La Spina) bought MacClennan’s grocery store, one of the township’s earliest businesses dating back to 1925.
On 1 January 1963, they opened Borsato’s Superette. While preparing their new premises, they temporarily operated from the front of Walter Sakauskas’s garage on the corner of Royston and Chauvel streets.
Determined to build something lasting, they demolished the original shopfront keeping only the residence and storeroom and, with the help of Santina’s brother, the late Filip La Spina, constructed a new brick shopfront using clay bricks from the Silkwood Brick Works. The new building quickly became a bustling hub where locals gathered, not just for groceries, but for conversation, support and a sense of belonging.
For more than 30 years, Val and Santina worked side by side, their warmth and work ethic reflecting the migrant spirit that helped shape the region. Their store became a social anchor, a place where every customer was known and every visit mattered.
In 1994, the Borsatos bought the El Arish Post Office from Pat Perkins (née Smith), daughter of former postmaster W.E. Smith, and relocated it into their existing premises at 46 Chauvel Street. The move brought retail and postal services together under one roof, further cementing the family’s place at the centre of town life.
Val died in 2007, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to the community. Santina continued running the post office until ill health in 2015.
Worried about the future of the service, she told her daughter Clelia she didn’t want to let the community down. Clelia, then living in Ayr with her husband Andrew Kirke and their two sons, returned home to care for her mother and honour her parents’ legacy by taking over the post office.
After Santina’s death in 2017, Clelia continued as operator and caretaker until 2026.
Under her care, the post office remained a welcoming hub, supporting the local school by selling students’ garden produce, showcasing handmade goods from local artists and keeping beloved traditions alive, from after-school lollies, Santa letters to fresh Tully bread.
As Clelia hands the reins to new owners Manda and Hetal, she hopes the post office will continue to bring people together, just as her parents intended. For generations of locals who grew up visiting the store, the Borsato legacy remains woven into the story of El Arish itself.
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