21 GEORGE STREET, MORWELL 3840
TELEPHONE 0351354444
THURSDAY, 26 AUGUST, 2021
13
17
SHOWERS
www.lvexpress.com.au
$1.80 $ inc. i GST
16
MOSTLY SUNNY
19
SHOWERS
MOSTLY SUNNY
BT airlifted to hospital after Walhalla blast By LIAM DURKIN,TOM GANNON AND ZAC STANDISH
SUDDEN IMPACT
Adapting to change: FoodCo managing director Rodney Murphy was one of countless hospitality operators in the region sprung by last Saturday’s snap lockdown decision. photograph zac standish
CAFES and restaurants across the Latrobe Valley were left reeling last Saturday morning as a sudden lockdown announcement by Premier Daniel Andrews forced them to close halfway through a busy lunchtime rush. Although many might have had an inkling of what was set to transpire due to the COVID situation unfolding in Shepparton on Friday, the immediacy of the decision did take some by surprise as businesses were only given two hours’ notice before having to close their doors. Located right in the heart of Traralgon, Café Evviva owner Joe
Tripodi detailed his experiences from Saturday morning. “We went into Saturday morning expecting something was going to happen that day, based on what was happening in Shepparton, so were anxiously waiting for the press conference while in the meantime we were already full booked out across the day,” he said. “I had in the back of my mind, based on the recent history, that we would not be trading that night so I planned accordingly and warned my staff. “I was hoping that it would be 11.59pm, and then I thought it might be 8pm so we might get half of our dinner service through, then I though it is going to 5pm but throughout that whole morning I did not expect it to be
1pm – at the time of the announcement it was already 11am and we already had a fully booked lunch so we had to contact all those customers to cancel and it really threw us off for a bit.” For popular Franklin Street eatery FoodCo it was a relatively similar story, as managing director Rodney Murphy was forced to put to an early end to what was turning out to be a very plentiful Saturday morning rush. “Being such a great weather day we were very busy all morning, and I think it was at about 10am that we actually heard some customers saying there was going to be a lockdown announcement,” Mr Murphy said. “So we pretty much cruised through to 1pm staying very busy and then when
1pm hit immediately went to takeaway, there was nothing we could do about it as once it’s called it’s called. “It is a little bit frustrating (only getting two hours’ notice) but we have done it so many times before it has become a bit of a game really, we are the lucky ones that can turn over to takeaway quite quickly and there is a lot of restaurants and function centres that are a lot worse off than us.” He said after the lockdown was announced, locals streamed to the café in large numbers to have one last sit down meal. Continued on page 6
NORTH GIPPSLAND LEAGUE HOLDS OUT HOPE FOR SEASON - VALLEY SPORT
Need Curtains
and Blinds? FREE BEST LARGEST NEW
GP1631408
in showroom h Gippsland
di l in i display showroom now
Call us now 5134 3652
Shed?
Think Eureka...
100% Australian Owned... 100% Australian Madee. Come and see the local blokes for a quote
Morwell Curtain & Blinds 34-38 George Street, Morwell
PAGE 8
Thinking
Garages and Sheds
GP1628620
See page 9 off todday’s paper
Measure, M P i d Prices and Quote and Quality Installation
WEDDING BEFORE LOCKDOWN
Visit our display centre at 188 Argyle Street Traralgon.
Phone 5174 5311
GP1630467
By ZAC STANDISH
POPULAR AFL commentator Brian Taylor was airlifted from Rawson yesterday afternoon following a minor gas explosion in Walhalla. Erica and District Fire Brigade confirmed via its Facebook page they had assisted Ambulance Victoria in airlifting a male occupant of a Walhalla household for treatment. Ambulance Victoria could not confirm his condition when contacted by The Express late yesterday. “The CFA responded to reports of an explosion on Main Road in Walhalla at around 12.07pm today,” a CFA spokesperson told The Express. “Two CFA units from Erica Brigade responded and arrived on scene. “Crews arrived and assessed the incident determining there was no fire on the scene, the scene was declared under control at around 12.23pm and a patient was handed into the care of Ambulance Victoria. “CFA firefighters deemed the site safe at 12.44pm.” Taylor played 140 games and kicked 527 goals during an 11-year VFL/AFL career with Richmond and Collingwood before embarking on a media career. He has had a home in Walhalla for many years.