The Roskill Village Pharmacy is an iconic and a pioneer Pharmacy in Mt Roskill, established more than 50 years ago by legendary sports administrator and former Commonwealth Games Chairman Joe McMenamin.
He was a popular man and people came from various parts of the city to get medication from him. He was also responsible for making many concoctions, which he had formulated himself.
When Mr McMenamin retired, the Pharmacy was bought by Stuart Tunnicliffe, who ran the store for ten years and retired when he was 50 years old.
The present owner is Iliyas Daud a sports administrator and well known for his services to sports within the Fijian community.
Impressive expansion
It was a small pharmacy, which had to compete with another pharmacy across the road. Mr Daud acquired it from Vokes family and embarked on an expansion plan.
He purchased the adjacent shop and extended the pharmacy.
Realising the need for a medical centre to cater to the growing needs of the public and to ensure sustainability of the pharmacy, Mr Daud gradually acquired two neighbouring houses and after a lengthy resource consent battle with the Auckland City Council, completed the new facility.
Called, ‘The Roskill Union Medical Centre,’ the facility provides comprehensive healthcare to the people of the area.
Promoting soccer
Mr Daud is the Founder of the Veterans Tournament, which is held annually for the past 15 years. He is presently Team Director of Mangere United, a fast-growing and highly successful soccer club in South Auckland.
He was a member of the bidding committee that obtained for South Auckland a national league franchise in the Youth Division.
Mr Daud was a core member of the team that helped to build the Centre Park Sports Stadium. His contributions to football are immense and most of the teams with which he has been involved, have registered success on the sports field.
His achievements in sports are without comparison in the Fiji Football community.
He is also involved in many other community and religious initiatives.
From a narrow outlet, Mr Daud has transformed the Roskill Village Pharmacy into a major pharmacy with a medical centre attached.
He continues to pursue his major goal in life- promoting quality soccer, and encouraging youngsters and seniors to lift the professional standard of the game.
