Cudlee Creek and KI business owners ask for visitors to help keep them afloat after devastating bushfires
Along with donating, one of the best ways to support South Australia’s fire-stricken communities is simply to visit their cafes, pubs and wineries.
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Cudlee Creek cafe owner Babette Wilkinson is urging people to visit the Hills and support their wounded economy.
Ms Wilkinson’s cafe dodged a bullet, coming within metres of the devastating wildfire on December 20.
“We need to get back to normality as soon as possible,” Ms Wilkinson said.
“We need to be doing business as usual.”
Ms Wilkinson said the spirit of the tight-knit community remained as strong as ever and had rallied behind her.
“We’ve been even busier because of people being inquisitive and wanting to help.”
But she urged people to continue to support the area in the months ahead.
Other businesses are not doing as well.
The Lobethal Hotel duty manager Wendy Brussell said they lost “a phenomenal” amount of money, with a loss of revenue from people who would have visited the Lights of Lobethal.
Ms Brussell said the recent spell of hot weather had not helped with people not wanting to leave their homes.
Ms Brussell said spending money at the hotel and other businesses was a good way of donating.
“If you can’t afford to donate, come and have lunch or a drink,” Ms Brussell said.
“Everyone who works here is local … we spend the money here so it all goes around.”
Local winemaker James Tilbrook is asking people stay in contact with his business by following it on social media as they attempt to restore the entirety of the wine stock. Mr Tilbrook was left with six bottles of sparkling wine after fires destroyed $300,000 of wine and most of the Tilbrook Estate vineyard.
More than 20 per cent of their vines were completely destroyed and the remainder damaged by heat stress with no guarantee they would last the summer. His winemaking equipment and irrigation system was also destroyed in the blaze.
“For the first few days I went to the vineyard, and just stood there with my mouth open,” Mr Tilbrook said.
Have a heart and visit KI
Scott Morrison has pleaded with local and overseas tourists to keep visiting fire-ravaged regions like Kangaroo Island and breathe new life into the devastated tourism sector.
Accommodation providers on KI and the Adelaide Hills have been rocked by a wave of booking cancellations, many up to four months away.
As firefighters brace for yet another challenging day, with 40C temperatures tipped for KI, the Prime Minister said more than two-thirds of the island was “open and ready for business”.
“If you’ve booked accommodation and you’re now seeking a refund, can you cut them a break in terms of at the very least on the timing of when you might expect to see a refund,” Mr Morrison said.
“These businesses have been hit very hard and their cashflows are not going to be in a position where they’re going to be able to meet every request.”
Whyalla couple David and Nikki Agius said they never considered leaving the island.
They decided to extend their stay on the island to seven nights and have spent almost $1000 buying Kangaroo Island-made produce and goods for family and friends.
KI Seaside Inn owner Chris Schumann yesterday showed the Prime Minister a large folder of all the recent cancellations, some holidays booked for April and May.
“There’s no reason for people to cancel then,” he said, adding: “Don’t abandon us, we need your business.”
Around 10km east of the firefront, a spokeswoman for the Parndana Hotel said she hoped tourists who had cancelled their stays had a change of heart.
Leeza Irwin, who owns bird of prey attraction Raptor Domain, said it was the small businesses that were going to keep the island together in the wake of the devastation.
“If people stop coming there’s going to be lot of people closing their doors,” she said.
Clifford’s Honey Farm spokeswoman Bev Nolan said although there had been a decline in visitor numbers, the tourists had been supportive and had donated to the KI Mayoral Fund.
“It is safe to visit us and the eastern end of the island,” she said.
Despite their own loss, Southern Ocean Lodge owners James and Hayley Baillie have “matched a personal contribution” of $100,000 with that of the Lodge, to assist the community through several organisations.
“There are many small businesses on KI which depend on tourism for their livelihood and island residents who have lost their homes,” the pair said.
Premier Steven Marshall backed calls for tourists to keep visiting.
“If you want to do the people of Kangaroo Island a favour, book a holiday,” Mr Marshall said.
Sealink has announced a $500,000 package, which includes a $200,000 donation to the KI Mayoral Fund, free ferry travel of up to $2000 per island property, and travel for family and friends of residents until the end of January.
Additionally, it will run free freight service for donated goods.
