Community
12 November, 2025
Sweet takeover
TIMBOON’S favourite lolly shop has a brand-new owner – and she’s vowed to keep the momentum going with a love for all things sweet.
Lynne-Maree Donald has taken over from Michele Fratantaro, who previously owned and operated Little Bit of Sweet for seven years and turned it into the thriving business known and loved today.
Mrs Donald said she never anticipated she would become the owner of a lolly shop and the opportunity simply fell into her lap at a fortunate time.
“It was never a dream of mine to have a lolly shop – it’s not on my bucket list,” she said.
“I was looking for something to do and my husband knew Michele’s mother-in-law.
“He came home from work one day and said Michele was selling the lolly shop.
“I don’t know how we got from there to signing on the dotted line.
“We came down, we liked what we saw and we said let’s see what we can do and we all made it work.”
Hailing from Cobden, Mrs Donald was previously working at Cobden Tools and Trailers before stumbling into Little Bit of Sweet.
“Michele made it very easy and three months later I put the key in the door,” she said.
“This just felt right. It all fell into place.”
Mrs Donald said she was most looking forward to all the happy smiles which come with working in a lolly shop.
“A lolly shop is a very happy place,” she said.
“Everyone who comes in has a smile on their face, which is a really nice place to be.
“You don’t get many people being sad when they come in and want to buy some lollies.”
She also said she was looking forward to becoming a part of the Timboon community, which has already welcomed her with open arms.
“It’s been amazing,” Mrs Donald said.
“I’ve received flowers from one of the other vendors in town and the Timboon Action group have been in to see me a couple times.
“All the positive feedback has been really wonderful.
“I’m really looking forward to this – being able to keep the momentum going that Michele got started.
“It’s been interesting so far. Like everything it will be swings and roundabouts.
“Moving forward I just hope the locals support me and I’ll support them.”
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