The closure follows bad news last week for at least 14 staff in the shire’s employment services sector, after a federal government shake-up.

Wesley Mission appeared to be the hardest hit last week, but home-grown provider Campbell Page was still counting the cost.

Then came news this week that about 50 jobs were in limbo after the Moruya-based Southern NSW Medicare Local failed in its bid to become a national primary health network-also a casualty of a federal shake-up.

The closure of St George’s Moruya branch does not carry the same weight of numbers, but the effect on the two workers who stand to lose their jobs is likely to be just as heavy.

Deidre Sinclair, aged 80, travels regularly to the branch from Turlinjah with her disabled son, Todd.

Her paper passbook may appear to be a relic of another age but it is very much part of the present for people such as Mrs Sinclair.

Roughly one-quarter of the Eurobodalla’s population is aged above 65 years.

This is compared to a national averge of about half that.

While many in this age bracket have willingly made the leap to internet banking, keycards, pin numbers and passwords, others have not.

They feel much more secure with pen and paper, in the same way they feel much more secure living in a country town than in the big smoke.

Mrs Sinclair said she chose St George 30 years, when it was a building society and owned by its members.

She said she believed it would always keep country branches open - because the profit motive was secondary to the needs of its members.

Wednesday was a rude awakening.