James McConnachie worked in the Emerald Co-Op from 1981 until his retirement in 2012. In that time he served as the Secretary Manager, General Manager and Managing Director. Founded in 1945, the Emerald and District Co-Operative Society was established in the wake of the Second World War when a shortage of stock feed created a desperate situation for local farmers. The co-operative movement is a workers movement that grew out of industrial Britain when underpaid working people banded together to buy goods at wholesale prices (Jenkinson, 2005).This photograph is historically and socially significant because it depicts a long-serving member of the Emerald Co-Operative. Since its establishment in 1945, the Co-Op has become an integral part of the community. It is an active supporter of local sporting clubs, schools and groups. Sponsorships have included the football club, the primary and secondary schools, and the Emerald RSL. The co-op movement is an historically significant movement that has ties with the broader social and labour movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Black and white rectangular photograph. The photo is of James McConnachie, manager of the Emerald Co-Op. He is wearing a plaid shirt and has a pen tucked into his right ear.emerald and district co-operative society, community, hardware, emerald, victoria, australia

James McConnachie worked in the Emerald Co-Op from 1981 until his retirement in 2012. In that time he served as the Secretary Manager, General Manager and Managing Director. Founded in 1945, the Emerald and District Co-Operative Society was established in the wake of the Second World War when a shortage of stock feed created a desperate situation for local farmers. The co-operative movement is a workers movement that grew out of industrial Britain when underpaid working people banded together to buy goods at wholesale prices (Jenkinson, 2005).This photograph is historically and socially significant because it depicts a long-serving member of the Emerald Co-Operative. Since its establishment in 1945, the Co-Op has become an integral part of the community. It is an active supporter of local sporting clubs, schools and groups. Sponsorships have included the football club, the primary and secondary schools, and the Emerald RSL. The co-op movement is an historically significant movement that has ties with the broader social and labour movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Black and white rectangular photograph. Two males are posing for a photo. The male on the left is in a Salvation Army uniform, distinguished by the letter 'S' pinned onto his left and right lapel. Two more unidentifiable pins are on the left lapel. The male on the right is James McConnachie, manager of the Emerald Co-Op. He is in civilian clothing. The two males are standing in front of a small table. On the table is a large, white, stuffed-toy bear with a ribbon tied around its neck. Five smaller stuffed-toy bears are also on the table. The two males are both holding onto the large bear. The two males are standing outdoors in front of a brick wall. Trees can be seen in the background.Obverse: S S /emerald and district co-operative society, community, salvation army, hardware, emerald, victoria, australia

A history of the first sixty years of the Emerald and District Co-operative Society, written by Jo Jenkinson, Emerald Museum, at the invitation of Paul Frisk, Chairman of Directors. Based on new bulletins issued by the Co-op, minutes of Directors' meetings and AGMs, and personal memories of former employees of the Co-op. The Co-op was founded by farmers in the Emerald district in 1944-45, and had an important influence on farming and general development in the district in itsw early years. It subsequently became the major hardware supplier in Emerald, first under the Homestead Hardware chain, and later under the Mitre Ten umbrelloa.40 page soft cover booklet with black and white and coloured photographsr.w. nobelius, malco boyce, des love, mary a'vard, george a'vard, jean lehmann, charlie smith, patrick burns, fraser williams, george williams, jack hirst, emerald, victoria, australia horace wardle, harry wise, jack eudey, james mcconnachie, emerald and district co-operative society, resident action, town planning, farms, real estate agencies, businesses