Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period - shares used for basic earnings per common share	9,864	9,777	9,839	9,745
Common shares issuable under share based payment plans which are potentially dilutive	43	62	45	77
Common shares used for diluted earnings per common share	9,907	9,839	9,884	9,822
Income from continuing operations	$ 774	$ 2,046	$ 10,067	$ 4,022
Discontinued operations	0	0	0	2,179
Net income	$ 774	$ 2,046	$ 10,067	$ 6,201
Basic earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations	$ .08	$ .21	$ 1.02	$ .41
Discontinued operations	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.23
Net income	.08	.21	1.02	0.64
Diluted earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations	.08	.21	1.02	.41
Discontinued operations	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.22
Net income	$ .08	$ .21	$ 1.02	$ 0.63