Pub open but battle continues

THE Shamrock Hotel in Rochester has recently re-opened after repairs were undertaken following October’s flood event.

It wasn’t the first-time publican Ian Crouch had to rebuild after a flood having lived through the 2011 event, but it was much worse this time around he said.

“The pub was closed down for 4 months,” he said. “The water level was a lot higher than in 2011 so we lost all refrigeration and the kitchen had to be fully rebuilt.”

Mr Crouch said it was great to re-open but it’s a battle at the moment considering the state of the town.

“The town is low on residents because they have all been relocated until their properties are built,” he said.

“The morale and the atmosphere in Rochy are nowhere near what it usually is, it’s going to take a long time to fully recover.”

It has been a double blow for Mr Crouch who also had his home impacted as well as the damage the uninsured pub sustained.

“My residence is destroyed, and I am living at the pub now,” he said.

“I haven’t really pursued my house, because I have been focusing on my business to provide some income. Me and my two teenage boys are living here.

“Once the pub is completed, I will focus on the house, and see what the scope of work looks like, and what the insurance company comes back with and start moving forward there.”

With the large outflux of residents, Mr Crouch has been struggling with a lack of staff as well.

“My chef left, he had a large family and financial commitments, so he moved on,” he said.

“I have lost a couple of bar staff. One didn’t fare well after the floods. He had a bit of a breakdown, so he packed up and shifted back to Melbourne.

“That’s why I don’t open Monday or Tuesday and I don’t do lunches because I don’t have the staff. I am back in the kitchen and I haven’t cooked in over five years.”

Though it has been tough Mr Crouch said the people of Rochester had stuck with him.

“It’s been good to re-open, and I have had support from all the community and locals that are here, which has been great,” he said.