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It's awesome when great people who make great pubs get recognised for their hard work, dedication and all round good nature.
People who care for their community! Now that's something worth celebrating! Jordie (pictured) and the team from the Royal Oak Hotel, Clarendon have taken out the inaugural 2024 City of Onkaparinga Great Aussie Pub Challenge. The pub, nestled in the picturesque Adelaide Hills township about 30 minutes drive south if the city, supports their community by providing great meals, friendly hospitality, a pool table, great conversation and of course a refreshing beverage or three. And it's poker machine free! Next time your in the area drop in and say hi to the small friendly team behind this family-owned pub. To cap it all off The Great Aussie Pub Network is organising a celebration at the pub on Sunday arvo, December 1, with live music and sausage sizzle, to mark the ocassion. A big thanks to all the participants from the 2023 Seaford Rotary Seaside Walk who made the Challenge possible, by raising funds when participating in the walk. This event takes place along the magnificent 5km stretch from Port Noarlunga to Moana reserve, with views of the rolling Fleurieu hills and coastline on the journey. It raises funds for important suicide prevention and mental health initiatives in the community. The grant of $1000 from the Rotary Club of Seaford (Club president Deb Pagsanjan pictured) was donated to The Pub Whisperer last year and helped make The Challenge happen, in order to equip pub staff in the region with life-saving suicide prevention training. The win for the pub means The Royal Oak will receive a minimum 12-month subscription and listing on the Great Aussie Pubs website as well as suicide prevention training for all of their staff. A big thank you to all the participating pubs and publicans who got involved and encouraged their patrons to vote in The Challenge. They include: The Aussie Inn (Hackham) The Aldinga Hotel McLaren Vale Hotel Old Noarlunga Hotel Old Bush Inn (Willunga) The Alma (Willunga) Mick O'Shea's (Hackham) New data released by the Gambling and Control Commission shows Victorian are spending record amounts on pokies.
It revealed over $268 million was lost to electronic gambling machines last month. But, across the state, a handful of local government areas are putting their foot down and limiting — or outright banning — the machines, arguing it's for the benefit of the communities. In north-east Victoria Yackandah Hotel publican Peter Cook publican is questioning Indigo Shire Council's policy that results in poker machines effectively being banned in the region. He says with the challenging economic times, there is a need to consider other options. The local mayor says she would be surprised if there was community appetite to change the current situation, with the shire being well known for its 'pokies free' status. More at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-03/victorian-local-councils-take-stand-against-pokies/104280738 Listen to the podcast: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/australia-wide/australia-wide/104192586 But do you agree? If the pub is the place that people naturally go for community, do you think pokie machines strengthen Aussie communities or weaken them? #greataussiepubs #pokiefreepubs |
AuthorJono Hart is a former award-winning print journalist and commercial metro-city radio announcer. Archives
October 2024
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