I’m so sorry: Mr Whippy back on road after Covid breach

A Mr Whippy ice cream van owner has apologised after police cautioned him over Covid breaches, but says he was trying to make a living after his Ekka food stalls were canned.

The sound of greensleeves will ring out across Brisbane’s westside today after an apologetic Mr Whippy van owner was spoken to by police for Covid breaches.

John Girgenti said he had been devastated by the cancellation of the Ekka, where he had planned to operate 12 food stalls.

He was now desperately trying to keep money coming in and give people a job during lockdown by operating two ice cream vans.

But after complaints to The Gap police, he agreed to park his two vans yesterday until they were fully Covid compliant.

“I’ve got QR codes on the vans, there’s a Covidsafe plan, we have masks and are handing out masks to any customers who forget to wear them,’’ Mr Girgenti said.

One of Mr Girgenti's two Mr Whippy vans, which are now back on the road.

“We’ll be back on the road today (August 4), we (now) meet all the rules.’’

Mr Girgenti, who drives one of the vans, has run his Mr Whippy businesss for 30 years.

He also operates food stalls at the Ekka and was supposed to have ice cream, pizza, pasta and other stalls until the show was cancelled earlier this week.

“Show people are doing it really tough and all I’m trying to do is keep an income going and employ a few people.’’ he said.

“We’re just trying to make a living. I'm trying to do the right thing.

“We are just like UberEats. We’ve even had people call us and ask for our vans to come down their street and give the kids a treat.

“That’s really important at the moment when the kids are at home and going crazy.’’

Police confirmed they had spoken to Mr Girgenti and were satisfied he now had all necessary processes in place to meet Covid rules.