‘WE’VE STILL GOT EACH OTHER’ 2016 REBUILD
The little Victorian pub with a big heart offered more than just beer to those who came to save the day
It’s a town with more ticker than all our capital cities put together, and with a population of just 375, the good folk of Buchan, Victoria should stand up and take a well-deserved bow.
The region – nestled in the foothills of the legendary Snowy River National Park – was hit hard during the New Year bushfires with more than 25 homes destroyed.
But it’s the inspiring tale of one local pub opening its doors to feed hundreds of hungry and exhausted firies – that touched hearts across the world.
“The entire town had been evacuated, but my husband Greg and I – we’re the local publicans – made the decision to stay open and cook hot meals for the crews who were out there trying to save our properties. Geez, you’d be a mug if we’d shut the doors on those amazing human beings!” Margie Brick, 56, tells Woman’s Day from behind the bar at the popular Buchan Caves Hotel.
“We lost all power and were completely in the dark. I was cooking with a couple of helpers, regular holidaymakers Neil and Kerrie, and all we had was a few torches, one gas hot plate and a couple of fryers!
“I sent staff home, we had no phone reception, and a close friend, Leanne Hodge, was running the meals out to the fire zones, so these real-life heroes could enjoy some good tucker. I smashed out nearly 300 steaks and schnitzels over two days.”
What the Bricks didn’t know was that while they were slogging away over a hot stove, their family home since 2004 was being swallowed up by a giant firewall, flattening the place where they’d raised all five of their children.
“Just “Just like tha that, all your treasures and everything you’ve worked hard for have gone. But we’re not alone, friends also lost their homes,” explains Greg.
“You have to remain upbeat. The locals rely on this pub for more than just a cold beer – it’s a place they can come to where the door is always open.”
DEJA VU
Sadly, this is not the first time the Brick family have suffered at the hands of an inferno. The iconic hotel, which first opened its doors back in 1882, burned to the ground in 2014.
“We couldn’t afford to restore the site after the fire, but the pub is the heart of Buchan and the community, so the town people turned to crowdfunding and raised a generous $600,000, which was enough for the bank
‘You’d be a mug if we’d shut the doors on these amazing people’
to lend us the remainder so we could bring her back to life,” Margie reveals.
“A fond memory from the bushfires came when the Rapid Relief Team arrived, bringing with them a coffee machine! You’ve never seen so many happy faces knowing we didn’t have to drink any more of that instant rubbish,” she says with a chuckle.
In the weeks since the fires, homeless locals like Jeff and Margie Mccole, who are renting a small place down the road from the pub until their house is rebuilt, continue to be regulars.
“It’s a chance to reach out if someone needs a bit of a hand, or maybe doing it tougher than some of us,” says Margie.
“We have a roof over our head here at the pub until we get back into our new house. We have our five beautiful grown-up kids, three glorious grandchildren and we have Buchan to call home – that’ll do us.”