Redcliffe residents embrace new pay-it-forward meal scheme for frontline workers

In just a few weeks a community north of Brisbane has gifted more than 400 meals to its frontline workers. And they aren’t done yet.

A restaurant’s pay-it-forward scheme, which started as a way for people to support hospital staff, has grown to include all emergency services workers.

Suttons Beach Pavilion is offering customers a chance to buy a meal for firefighters, paramedics, police and hospital employees through its Help Our Heroes scheme.

Co-owner Oli Thomson said it was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Suttons Beach Pavilion co-owner Oli Thomson with some of the heat and serve meal options. Picture: Renae Droop

“I had the wife of a clinical nurse, who runs the ICU at Redcliffe Hospital, call me and ask if she could order 20 of our heat and serve meals for her husband,” Mr Thomson said.

He asked why so many?

“She said they were getting ready for COVID-19 and working long hours.

“So I offered to donate five meals and that is where the idea was born.”

Mr Thomson said he never imagined the pay-it-forward concept would be so popular.

“The community have purchased more than 400 meals for the workers,” he said.

“The support we have had for this campaign is just overwhelming and amazing.”

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He said whole apartment building complexes, neighbours and community groups had been collecting money so they could buy enough meals to feed a whole shift.

Residents cannot pick where the meals go – Mr Thomson said they rotated it around to keep it fair.

Mr Thomson said he planned to keep the scheme going even after the pandemic passed.

“We always thank our firefighters when there is a bushfire but what about the other 10 and a half months of the year they give up their weekends for, they work tirelessly year round to keep us safe,” he said.

Sous chef Tracy Rule is happy to help cook meals for the region’s emergency service workers and hospital employees. Picture: Renae Droop

Like many businesses in the hospitality industry COVID-19 has not been kind to Mr Thomson’s business.

He was forced to close about 70 per cent of it including its wedding venue, restaurant and bar.

“We have had to adapt and change, I have fine dining award-winning chefs working in the takeaway fish and chip shop,” Mr Thomson said. “But they have just dealt with it.”

Suttons Beach Pavilion has also been offering online wine tasting and cocktail making classes.

As other Peninsula business owners have reported Mr Thomson said the community had really come together to buy local.

“If things keep going this way we will survive this,” he said.

To support the campaign phone the restaurant on 3284 3320.