Residents, who used to have to travel to Griffith to fill most of their prescriptions, can now get everything they need at Massa’s Pharmacy.

The Point’s new chemist, Maher Massa, said his business has been warmly received by the locals.

“They are very happy having their own chemist,” Mr Massa said. “Some found it very difficult to get to Griffith and had to wait for someone to take them or for when a big group of people were going. It also means that their privacy rights are a lot more secure now because they can get everything done in one place rather than going to many different places in Griffith.”

Massa’s Pharmacy has also just become a diabetic agent for Diabetes Australia and now stocks all the necessary medication and equipment.

“We have everything here; the needles, the meters and residents can come and change their old glucose meters for new ones free of charge,” he said.

Mr Massa said that he will also be working with the Darlington Point medical centre to get more medical services to come to the area.

“We’re looking at getting a podiatrist to come out once a month or every two months, it’s important for the residents with diabetes to get their circulation looked at,” he said. “That will start when the new rooms at the centre are built.”

Murrumbidgee shire mayor Phillip Wells said the chemist was a big boost for the Darlington Point community.

“I think it’s going to be fantastic,” Mr Wells said. “As long as it gets the support then it will be a big help to the residents, particularly those who found it hard to get around to other towns before.”

Mr Wells said it was a sign of the times that Darlington Point had grown large enough to support their own chemist.