Vets touched by cafe’s care
AN Ocean Grove cafe owner has teamed up with Rotarians to deliver care packages to more than 50 local war veterans ahead of Anzac Day.
Driftwood Cafe’s Ty Simons initially launched the idea last Anzac Day, delivering hamper packs to veterans during lockdown.
Mr Simons said that after the inaugural success, and following further discussions with the Ocean Grove Rotary Club, he was determined to repeat the gesture for a second year.
“Last year we started off by offering five veterans care packages but, after putting it out to the public, within a couple of hours we had 12 names,” he said.
The number of boxes soon snowballed to 35 following help from the Rotary Club, donations from the public and support from local suppliers.
“Everyone was so thrilled, there was some tears, they all really appreciated it,” Mr Simons said.
This year’s packages, valued at about $150 each, contain goods such as eggs, milk, butter, bread, sausages, bacon, curry, lasagne, soup, muffins, cookies, fruit and wine.
The boxes will be delivered on Saturday across the Bellarine Peninsula, including in Drysdale, Portarlington, Barwon Heads and Leopold.
Lynne Carlson, from Ocean Grove Rotary Club, said 20 club volunteers would help pack and deliver the boxes again.
“The joy we saw on the veterans last year was just amazing,” she said.
“It’s not just a drop-off-andrun kind of thing, we’d spend five to 10 minutes with them just chatting.
“It was a little bit tear-jerking as well, some of them have done it a bit tough over COVID.”
THE JOY WE SAW ON THE VETERANS LAST YEAR WAS JUST AMAZING … IT WAS A LITTLE BIT TEAR-JERKING AS WELL, SOME OF THEM HAVE DONE IT A BIT TOUGH OVER COVID.”
LYNNE CARLSON, OCEAN GROVE ROTARY CLUB