‘Getting calls from all over Australia’: NQ pub Oasis Exchange Hotel Torrens Creek goes viral

An isolated NQ pub has launched a ‘pay it forward’ campaign for truckies barely able to afford food while working long-haul along the Flinders Hwy. See how it works.

An isolated pub on the Flinders Hwy outside Charters Towers is being inundated with ‘pay it forward’ food donations to help feed struggling truckies.

Oasis Exchange Hotel publican Priscilla Meli said she’s been seeing a lot of drivers doing it tough, and after a bit of internet research created her own hybrid donation system.

“One driver I was speaking to recently said he has a budget of $200 to go from Townsville to Perth and back,” Ms Meli said.

“We made this board so that any driver a bit pinched for cash could get a beer and a good feed and when they are in a better spot, they can pay it forward and throw something on the board for someone else.”

On Sunday the board had two rump steaks, two beers, chicken nuggets and a large chips and gravy available, all paid for by donations.

Priscilla Meli in the bistro area with some of their new dishes after taking over the pub in 2023. Ms Meli said she always keeps casserole in the fridge for truckies needing a feed outside kitchen hours.

Over the last few days, donations have far and away exceeded Ms Meli’s expectations, mainly due to her posting on Facebook and attention from Big Rigs Newspaper.

“We’ve been getting calls from all over Australia to buy a meal for the ‘pay it forward truckie board’,” she said.

One donor was former Victorian truck driver Gary Bousch who saw Ms Meli’s facebook posts and rang up to donate two roasts.

“It’s one of the best things I’ve seen,” Mr Bousch said.

“It’s going to help somebody who’d otherwise go without a feed.”

The Oasis Exchange Hotel's 'pay it forward' board soon after it was launched by publican Priscilla Meli after she noticed several truckies going hungry.

Mr Bousch said when faced with a budget of $200 to get to Perth and back, the drivers would be “eating like sparrows”.

“That is ridiculous, Townsville to Perth is three to four days each way,” he said.

“I used to run a roadhouse and I know what truckies are looking for, a meal that can sustain them, not this pre-cooked stuff service stations have these days.”

Mr Bousch said the most popular meal of long-haul drivers used to be a home-cooked style meat and veggie dinner.

“I just want to say good luck and thankyou to all the blokes still out there doing it,” the Swan Hill resident said.

“I haven’t been up that way since the 60s, but I remember it.”

Originally published as ‘Getting calls from all over Australia’: NQ pub Oasis Exchange Hotel Torrens Creek goes viral