How Boyd found his calling in community pharmacy
“From an early age, I knew my future would be somewhere within the allied health space which eventually turned into an interest in pharmacy. Being a pharmacist seemed like the obvious choice as at that time. When I was in school, the only way to become a pharmacist was by direct university entry. To achieve this, I geared my studies towards science and maths.”
Boyd’s path to community pharmacy ownership
“After graduating with a Bachelor of Pharmacy, I completed my 12-month internship under Stuart Reinke in Toowoomba, an experience that laid a strong foundation for my career. From there, I returned to my hometown of Roma, working for two years as a second pharmacist.
It was during my time in Roma that I heard about a management opportunity in Oakey. In January 1988, I started managing Phillip Woods Pharmacy. After seven rewarding years working with Phil, my wife Sue and I purchased the pharmacy on 24 April 1995.
Together, Sue and I worked hard to grow the business into a major health destination for the Oakey community.
In November 2013, we purchased our second pharmacy in Toowoomba, expanding our business footprint to provide further services to the Toowoomba community.
The challenges that COVID-19 presented made us make the choice to sell our Oakey store, allowing us the freedom to concentrate on growing our Toowoomba pharmacy. In April 2025, sold our Toowoomba pharmacy.”
Joining The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
“As community pharmacy business owners, we realised we required additional support. We became members of The Pharmacy Guild in 1998 and quickly realised the importance of having professional and industrial support to stay compliant with the evolving legislation and requirements in the pharmacy industry.”
The value of Guild membership
“For us, the most valuable part of being Guild members has been the industrial relations support–a special mention must go to Tina (Industrial Relations Manager for the Queensland Guild), whose assistance has been truly outstanding.
In addition, the businesssupport offered through the Guild has been an essential pillar in helping us navigate the complexities of pharmacy ownership over the years.”
Words of advice for future community pharmacy owners
“Running a business is never easy; but having the support of a member organisation, like the Guild, makes all the difference. Their advocacy for the industry is second to none.
It doesn't matter whether you're running a large or small community pharmacy—The Guild is there to guide you, advocate for you, and ensure that you have the support you need every step of the way.”
Left to right: Past Queensland branch committee member, Andy Hawken; Queensland branch committee member, Fiona Watson; Guild members, Boyd and Sue Busiko; branch committee member Lucy Walker.