In late 1946 Doug purchases a newsagency on busy St George’s Terrace in Perth from Laura O’Hara. Over twenty years and through multiple renovations by their landlords, Zimpels the furniture store, Doug and Joan open a separate greeting cards store within Zimpels and a chocolates store.

Doug was a lifelong Aussie Rules fan, barracking for West Perth in the WAFL. He played amateur footy in the Band of Hope Association at age 14, the Towns team in Coolgardie, Railway Rovers in Kalgoorlie and Towns at RAAF Geraldton. In later years Doug umpired matches, was a vice patron of the West Perth Football Club a patron of the Osborne Park Sunday League Football. #WAFL #AussieRules @WestPerthFC

In Canada and Australia Doug’s parents run/own many businesses. In Perth they had the Royalty Tearooms, Phar Lap Cafe and Adelphi Cafe in Hay Street, the Heather Tearooms and Queen of Hearts on Barrack Street, a shop in William Street and one in the northern suburb of North Beach. In Kalgoorlie they had the Teacup Tearooms and Mum’s Tearooms.