Locals pitch in to keep beer flowing at Rupanyup’s Commercial Hotel
Locals in a small rural Victorian town are helping keep their pub alive during coronavirus. Find out how.
WHAT the small Wimmera town Rupanyup lacks in size, it makes up for with heart – and a cold beer.
Just ask the local publican Chris Ormrod.
After having to make the decision to move back to Melbourne to be with his family due to coronavirus restrictions, a group of ‘Rup’ locals offered to pitch in at the pub in his absence.
“Community spirit is not dead, it’s alive and it’s a constant – not just when the chips are down, it’s a constant thing out here,” Mr Ormrod said
“It’s been very humbling to be considered enough by people for them to come and help.
“I’m massively grateful and humbled by the generosity of people, but it’s not unheard of there, it’s just the way it is.”
Like many small business owners across rural, regional and metropolitan areas, it’s been a challenging time for Chris and his wife Debbie who only purchased The Commercial Hotel in December last year.
But Chris maintains a positive outlook, seeing the opportunities in the face of adversity.
“I’m the sort of person who says ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’,” he said.
“While we were in lockdown the first time, we decided to renovate, and when we could reopen again it was like a rebirthing of the place.
Chris said he was approached by members of the community a few weeks back to see if he needed a hand with cooking meals.
“People were wanting to volunteer, they just want to help out,” he said.
Local Tess Healy was one of those who put their hand up, helping out in the kitchen on Saturday.
“The new owners have really invested in the pub and committed to the town, and with coronavirus it’s been timely to give them a hand,” she said.
“We saw it as a bit of a community pep up too.
“Being a small country town, people want to support the pub, but are limited in how they can support it, with coronavirus.
“Hopefully this will give them some momentum for when they are allowed to come back to the pub.”
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