Andrew Stuart calls for end to Aspen ‘vitriol’
A top real estate executive has called for an end to the vitriol aimed at Melburnians who attended an Aspen party linked to a coronavirus outbreak.
Page 13
Don't miss out on the headlines from Page 13. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A leading real estate executive has defended the host of an Aspen party linked to a coronavirus outbreak and said people who did nothing wrong had been put “in the firing line”.
Andrew Stuart, who co-founded real estate giant Hocking and Stuart, recently returned from the luxury US alpine resort and has been isolating at his farm on the Mornington Peninsula.
He said he had missed the now-infamous March 2 soiree hosted by Flexigroup chairman Andrew Abercrombie and his wife Shadda in Aspen, but called for the “vitriol” being aimed at those who attended the cocktail event or visited the area to end.
A number of Victorian COVID-19 infections can be traced to a group of Australians who were at the Colorado resort in early March.
Some returning travellers didn’t self-isolate — which was not a government law at the time — and attended functions that saw further cases emerge.
Residents around Portsea and Sorrento have vented their frustrations at those who allegedly flouted self-isolation regulations after contracting the coronavirus.
Mr Stuart said it was necessary to clear the air amid rumours swirling the coast, and strongly defended Mr Abercrombie, who is a former Victorian Liberal Party treasurer.
“All he did was have a party,” Mr Stuart said.
“Some of the people from the party proved to be positive. I can understand why he wanted to clear the air, as it almost sounded like he was the purveyor of the virus.
“He was a bit stiffed. Has the generosity of having a party, then he gets clobbered.”
Mr Abercrombie released a statement last week confirming he had self-isolated on return to Australia and had twice tested negative to COVID-19.
The ongoing furore over the Colorado ski group cluster comes as Victoria’s most affluent suburbs lead the way for coronavirus infections.
Department of Health and Human Services figures show from a total of 968 reported cases there are 77 in Stonnington – which includes Toorak and Armadale – and 48 across the Mornington Peninsula.
Yesterday, federal health minister Greg Hunt and Victorian Liberal planning spokesman Tim Smith called for people who have done the wrong thing on isolation to have the “book thrown at them”.
Mr Smith described people who wandered around their streets when they should be quarantined as “flogs”.
Mr Stuart said he did not know of anyone who had flouted isolation restrictions or protocols.
“It’s tiresome. I’ve heard all the suggestions, but to my knowledge I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t done the right thing,” he said.
Mr Stuart, who has left Hocking Stuart to set up his own vendor advisory business, said he had recently returned from Aspen for an annual ski trip with friends.
He said he normally attended Mr Abercrombie’s annual cocktail party but didn’t arrive into Aspen until four days later.
“I and about 10 of my friends have been going to Aspen for about 18 or so years in early March, as has Mr Abercrombie and his wife and their friends,” he said.
“Our paths cross,” Stuart said.
He hit out at incorrect rumours that were now circulating.
“Apparently I was fined $50,000 by Colorado health department — I wasn’t even at the party,” Mr Stuart said.
“I didn’t get to Aspen until the 5th of March and my wife wasn’t even there.
“There’s not a skerrick of truth to it.”
Mr Stuart said he then returned to Melbourne six days later where he was tested for the coronavirus.
“I wasn’t crook, I hadn’t been to the party. I got back to Australia and my wife told me to get tested and then I came down to my retreat on the Mornington Peninsula.”
He said he has since been self-isolating on his farm.
“I’ve never felt better. I’ve saddled my horse up and going for a ride. Some people are asymptomatic and some people get crook.”
But Mr Stuart told the Herald Sun he might put the annual ski trip on hold for 2021.
“It’s a fantastic place to go to in March if you like to ski … don’t know if we will go back next year though.”
READ MORE
FEDERER ‘DEVASTATED’ BY WIBLEDON SHOCK