OCTOBER 6, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
(Damjan Janevski) 215762_01
Firefighters step up Whittlesea CFA duo Brandon and Stephanie Smith are using whatever steps they can find to complete the One Million Steps For Mental Health challenge. Being held instead of the annual Melbourne Firefighter Stair Climb due to COVID-19, the challenge involves firefighters climbing stairs in their local community for a month until October 10. Each firefighter will climb a minimum of 3046 steps over the month, which reflects the number of people who lose their lives to suicide each year. Husband and wife Brandon and Stephanie have taken part in the stair climb the past few years. Brandon said lockdown restrictions had made getting the steps in a challenge. “It’s been hard to try and find steps around Whittlesea at the moment,” he said. “We’ve been using playgrounds which have stone steps to get them in.” The Smiths are hoping to raise $1000 each. Money raised this year will be donated to the Lifeline, the Black Dog Institute and the 000 Foundation. To donate, visit: www.firefighterclimb. org.au/ STEPHANIE AND BRANDON SMITH
Tara Murray
Dining ban slammed By Tara Murray One of Hume’s premier dining facilities is calling on the state government to reopen the Victorian hospitality industry sooner. Marnong Estate, in Mickleham, has been open for just 13 weeks this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was forced to close the restaurant and all function spaces, resulting in a loss of 92 per cent in general revenue. The café is open, offering grab and go and home delivery service, the cellar door has been converted into a farm shop and the estate adapted the business online with an
e-commerce shop. But marketing and sales manager Paul Boyko said a lack of information around being able to reopen the restaurant and function rooms had been frustrating. “None of us ever thought there was going to be a second shutdown and so we reopened and brought in millions of dollars of food and beverage,” he said. “For Marnong Estate, being in the City of Hume, we were shut down again after one week … we traded for a total of four days in June. “This was a bitter pill to swallow after heavily investing in our reopening schedule and COVID-19 plan.”
Restaurants can start serving patrons outdoors under step three of the state government’s reopening roadmap, which could be introduced as early as October 19 if metropolitan Melbourne reaches an average of five daily cases over the previous 14 days. Mr Boyko said Marnong Estate felt the idea of outdoor dining was unrealistic and inconceivable. “We’ve got one of the greatest food cities in the world, and right now we’re on the brink of losing that,” he said. “There is no doubt the Victorian hospitality industry is already well equipped to commence reopening and poised to do so.
“We call on the Premier to give our people more hope … we want to know when we can all go back to work, because the hospitality industry can’t just switch the lights on at 24 hours’ notice. All of us will need time to plan.” Despite concerns about the outdoor dining policy, Marnong Estate will expand its alfresco dining options which are normally seasonal. “This isn’t ideal for Marnong Estate because our indoor dining room is already recognised as such an integrated part of the estate.” Mr Boyko said the flow-on effect from not being able to serve more people in the restaurant and function rooms would be felt by suppliers.
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