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Filed under: Friday Dilemma, Pubs

128 comments

Last weekend, Puncher Ant Sharwood went skiing at Thredbo with a mate. To save money on overpriced snow accommodation and to avoid the tosspot ski crowd, they stayed in a small country town just below the mountains.

It was way worse than this. Pic: John Fotiadis

The motel was basic but clean, and well priced at $85 per room. After checking in on Friday evening, Ant and his mate walked to the local pub to grab a feed and a beer. They didn’t last long, as Ant explains…

“The first thing I noticed was how cold the pub was. It was freezing. Still, we ordered a meal from the bistro and to be fair, the Chicken Parmy was pretty good, even if the edges of the schnitzel were a bit burnt.

“Then after dinner, we went into the public bar to watch Friday Night Footy. What a dump. Crap all over the floor, old dirty glasses everywhere and a log fire that was sputtering at best. It really was just filthy in there and the clientele weren’t much better.

“This is not snobbery. There is a nearby small town which also has just the one pub. Like this one, the bar is full of sheep farmers with flannies and muddy boots. But that pub is warm, and has a terrific family atmosphere. Not this pub.

“This pub was full of people swearing – and we’re talking endless f-bombs and c-bombs. It really was offensive. We rugged up and sat outside, but the outside tables were covered in cigarette butts and ashtrays that looked like they hadn’t been emptied since last winter.

“A pub is a small town’s face. It is often the only experience visitors have of a town. So today’s dilemma is: how can the townspeople fix it? Should my mate and I have said something? Should the locals put pressure on the publican to clean up his act?

“You might argue that if the pub is filthy it doesn’t matter. Just don’t go there. Well, that’d be fine if there was somewhere else to grab a beer and a cheap feed in town, which there isn’t.

“And that’s the real issue here. I am extremely unlikely to stay in the town again. And that’s not fair for the really enthusiastic, friendly guy behind the desk of my perfectly adequate motel. Nor is it fair for the rest of the town.

“So what should the townsfolk do? What can they do? Is there anything my mate and I should have done, or could do?”

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128 comments

Show oldest | newest first

- Kika says:
  
  01:03pm | 01/07/11
  
  OI! There’s nothing wrong with the Ettamogah pub! It’s on the Bruce Highway in a very densely populated region in SE Qld and it’s actually a tourist haven in the area. It’s not dingy at all. You Mexicans… get your photo bucket right!
  
  Reply
MD says:

01:13pm | 01/07/11

I think you missed the part where the pub in question is near Thredbo.
BLee says:

02:09pm | 01/07/11

Although i would not trust the rickety old wooden roller coaster out the back of the Ettamogah.
AFR says:

03:49pm | 01/07/11

Kika - there are at least 3 Ettamogahs that I know of - Sunshine Coast, Albury and Baulkham Hills (Sydney). You Cane Toads, how about getting out a little more.
DougB says:

04:36pm | 01/07/11

Hey Ant,
Not in Jindabyne by any chance?
Kika says:

04:55pm | 01/07/11

Why would I want to go to Albury or Baulkham Hills when I already live in QLD?
Bennymac says:

05:25pm | 01/07/11

The one pictured is my local, in rouse hill, in sydney’s north western suburbs. Its great for kids on a sunday, jumping castle, pony rides, and face painting.
Septimus says:

05:50pm | 01/07/11

That’s NOT the one on the Sunshine Coast.
acotrel says:

07:39am | 02/07/11

I wonder why Mansfield in NE Victoria has two excellent clean and modern pubs, and NO POKIES? Both of the pubs are warm and serve excellent meals, they are a credit to the town. Yet in other places less than 100 Km away, there are towns where most of the pubs sell revolting meals, and are full of ferals! Perhaps being close to the snow IS important?
Fiona says:

08:57am | 02/07/11

Pokies suck that’s why acotrel.
acotrel says:

03:23pm | 02/07/11

There are 5 pubs in Benalla, and you’d only want to visit one of them. It stays closed 3 days per week. Sleaze seems to be more popular?
acotrel says:

09:38am | 03/07/11

If you are really serious about fixing the pubs in that town near Thredbo, write a letter and send copies to their local council, and the state and federal ministers for tourism! Tell them to lift their game! These days we’ve lost much of our manufacturing industry, and we now depend on tourism. We cannot afford to tolerate jerks who provide abysmal service to tourists!
acotrel says:

12:48pm | 03/07/11

Those two pubs in Mansfield are no more than 30 paces from the monument in the middle of town. They clearly demonstrate what CAN BE! And there is NO EXCUSE for the grungy depressing country pubs which exist elsewhere! THere is nothing worse than to go into a smelly pub where your feet stick to the floor, and the races are blaring in the background. I suppose that’s the real Australia, but do we really want to show that to the tourists? It is pathetic!
- Rose says:
  
  01:10pm | 01/07/11
  
  If it was that bad you should place a complaint with the health inspectors,food and beverage are served there so it should at least be clean. I would have asked if the heating could be turned up,just asking reminds those in charge that, while they may not notice the cold, the rest of the world does! If people don’t say anything the owner/managers either think they have got away with it or just don’t know people aren’t satisfied with the conditions.
  On the other hand I am sick to death of pubs that have been done up! I went to a pub that I used to frequent regularly but hadn’t been to in years. Having been revamped it did look quite spiffy, but it had lost it’s heart and soul.I couldn’t wait to leave it was so lifeless! So many pubs are like that now, all flash and modern but with no atmosphere. I blame the bloody pokies!
  
  Reply
acotrel says:

09:21am | 03/07/11

We have one pub in our town with pokies. The meals are appalling, and the pokies are as tight as the proverbial fish’s! One thing I always do in our town, if someone is ‘making every post a winning post’, is WALK AWAY!
- Danny B says:
  
  01:10pm | 01/07/11
  
  To answer Ant’s question, I’d point out to the local officials (town council) that the more tourists who come in, the more life they’ll get into the town, and so in turn they’ll be able to expand their power base/poplulation. In turn, they’ll lean on the publican to clean up his act.
  
  Reply
acotrel says:

09:29am | 03/07/11

@DannyB Pointing out anything to local councils is usually pretty pointless! Bad pubs are a sign of poor community spirit. If a country town is full of backbiting dicks, it gets reflected in the whole aura of the place. They elect the council which leads the community. Mansfield is a credit to its people. It’s a really lovely town! I sometimes drive the 60Km to go there and have lunch with my beautiful wife in one of their beautiful pubs!
- Danny B says:
  
  01:14pm | 01/07/11
  
  Further to my previous post, another option would be to point out to the other businesspeople (like the hotelier) the effect that the pub’s sub-standard appearance will have on their businesses (loss of income, etc.). After all, the publican will probably be more inclined to listen to locals than out-of-towners, especially if they’re businessmen like him.
  
  Reply
- Erick says:
  
  01:16pm | 01/07/11
  
  Today, Erick wrote a comment in the third person, quoting himself. “Damn, that’s silly,” he is said to have said.
  
  Reply
Chris L says:

03:35pm | 01/07/11

Don’t believe everything you read!
Anthony Sharwood says:

03:49pm | 01/07/11

“The general format we use in Friday dilemmas is to run the story as a series of quotes,” Sharwood pointed out to Erick.

“Hey by the way, Sharwood added. “Why has nobody tried to guess the town?”
The Badger says:

04:00pm | 01/07/11

Khancoban
The Badger says:

04:09pm | 01/07/11

If it’s Towong, the pubs for sale for slightly less than 400,000
Anthony Sharwood says:

04:22pm | 01/07/11

Nope, not Khancoban. Not Towong either
Erick says:

04:34pm | 01/07/11

Your eyes scan Erick’s reply, feeding the digital information through sophisticated neural filters to your pre-frontal cortex. Decoding the characters and nuances, you realise that Erick has said “Fair enough. But why can’t we have articles written in the second person?”
The Badger says:

04:37pm | 01/07/11

Tintaldra
Gregg says:

05:24pm | 01/07/11

Was it Mansfield Ant, but probably not because from memory there’s more trhan one pub and a few other eateries.

What’s the place down near the foot of road up to Baw Baw, but then you’re not in sheep country.
Maybe Omeo.
Kathy says:

06:14pm | 01/07/11

@ Erick, I’ve always thought that was a gap waiting to be filled. Entire works written in the second person. How hard can it be?!?
Erick says:

06:49pm | 01/07/11

@Kathy - Many years ago I read a whole sci-fi novel of around 300 pages written in the second person. Unfortunately, I can’t remember anything else about it, other than that the cover featured splashes of red and orange. But, it has been done!
CJ Morgan says:

09:31pm | 01/07/11

Canberra - oh hang on, both the pubs there are crap.
Anthony Sharwood says:

09:37pm | 01/07/11

Not Jindabyne, not Mansfieled, not Tintaldra. Last clue: just under an hour from Thredbo, on the NSW side
AnthonyG says:

10:46pm | 01/07/11

Dalgety
Anthony Sharwood says:

08:10am | 02/07/11

Nope, not Dalgety
Punters Pal says:

08:34pm | 02/07/11

Was it Berridale? I have never been to that pub, but driven past in many times? Either that or Adaminaby?
Anthony Sharwood says:

09:52pm | 02/07/11

No comment, Punters Pal. But I will say this. The Adaminaby pub is the nice one I refer to in the piece. Love the Snowgoose Hotel, as it’s called.
- Nafe says:
  
  01:19pm | 01/07/11
  
  You needed to mention this to the motel reception. They are running a business and chances are they know the other business people in the town. If you let the motel know of the sty the pub is and that its discouraged you to return, then the motel owner could have a quiet word to the publican. After all the publican is affecting the clientelle of the motel.
  
  But the publican has to look after the locals also, a bit of a clean up, a seperate bar section for the locals with their F and C bombs while a more family friendly section to be set up. At the end of the day, country towns are dieing so they should be encouraging tourists.
  
  Reply
acotrel says:

07:39am | 04/07/11

@Nafe There’s an aspect of customer complaints that most business people don’t understand. Customers don’t usually complain directly, but they will often tell about ten other people to stay away! It’s bad enough getting crap service without getting the head fvck that goes with an argument with the idiots running the business!
- Tubesteak says:
  
  01:21pm | 01/07/11
  
  These pubs exist on a very thin line financially. Thehy don’t have a great deal of money to splash around.
  
  But some simple renovating efforts and an emphasis on client service should help them out.
  
  Reply
Bev says:

03:09pm | 01/07/11

On the road between Minlaton and Port Vincent on York Peninsular in the town of Curramulka there is as small country pub. The town itself is basically a few houses a general/hardware/antique/Post office store with petrol/diesel pumps and the pub. The pub itself is an old stone built building. It used to be a rundown dive. The present owners (a young couple) have done it up without spending $$$$$. The atmosphere is excellent and the food is reasonably basic, not expensive and to die for (she cooks). A great mix of locals and others
on Thursday, Friday and the weekend. Its crowded! So it can be done with some effort and will.
- Miriam says:
  
  01:24pm | 01/07/11
  
  Kika….Oi! back The Ettamogah pubs are a chain business. There are several around Australia including Albury NSW which was the original one, Sydney, Western Australia and of course the Sunshine coast. “We Mexicans” started them!
  
  Reply
Anubis says:

03:46pm | 01/07/11

The one just outside of Albury is actually in Ettamogah and not far from the Ettamogah Wildlife Sanctuary. It is about halfway between Albury and the turn off to Table Top mountain. When I was a kid living in Albury I used to regularly ride my bike out to Ettamogah and do volunteer work at the Sanctuary.
- Ash says:
  
  01:26pm | 01/07/11
  
  The Ettamogah Pub in Table Top (just outside Albury) is closing down… there’s more than one of them. The Albury one is dingy.
  
  Reply
- MarK says:
  
  01:27pm | 01/07/11
  
  “This is not snobbery.”
  
  Yah. It is. You went into the pub and didn’t like it. There is a restricted clientèle out of the city. They see you once a year for a weekend…...maybe. They see their locals every day and make their living off them, or try to. If you are so concerned about swearing fix up half the tweets you guys publish on this page. It is a typical country pub. Deal with it or see the Publican and ask he does something special just for you.
  
  “A pub is a small town’s face.”
  
  No
  
  It isn’t.
  
  A pub is an area where people from the small town go to get pissed. That is all. Don’t romanticise it. That is all it is.
  
  It is telling you showed the Ettamogah Pub to accompany this story. That is a tourist attraction not a small town pub that serves grog to alco’s like me.
  
  You are expecting way too much and thinking like an inner city tosser.
  
  Next time fly down there on a plane you charterd, just to make sure there are no kids on board, and stay at the resort. But before you do;
  
  1. Check global warming, that undisputed scientific fact and Torified settled science, has not stopped the snow falling like it was predicted to do numerous times. Bugger if that happened.
  
  2. Ensure the small town pubs of your dreams are in actuality like you perceive them. In other words know what to expect nit think you do.
  
  3. Make enquiries to ascertain that all people that own and run a business give a shit about the business in the area you will be staying
  
  4. All people that own a small town country pub in the towns you wish to visit are armed with the fact that they are the social and cultural guardians of the town they are in. It might just have escaped some of them.
  
  That’s my advice anyway. Or go to where the chicken parmy is not burnt.
  
  Reply
marley says:

02:18pm | 01/07/11

Nope. Don’t agree. I live in a small town, and the pub is clean, warm and comfortable. Because, you know, the locals actually like it better that way. And it doesn’t cost all that much to clear the ashtrays, sweep the floor and wipe down the counter, after all.

So the pub does a good business year round, and a roaring business in the tourist season. Good for the pub, and good for the other local businesses, all of whom are desperate for every dollar they can get, even if those dollars come from - gasp - visitors. Any business owner who designs his business model to provide the minimum level of service to a basically captive clientele because he’s the only game in town, is an idiot. And he deserves to be called on it.
Will says:

02:23pm | 01/07/11

MarK, your comment shows a lack of understanding of Economic principles. Ever heard of the 80/20 principle? Google it, you might learn something…
MarK says:

02:30pm | 01/07/11

“Because, you know, the locals actually like it better that way.”

No it isn’t.

It is becasue the owner gives a shit and can probably afford it.

I am intrigued that you know the financial well being of the place too. Are you an owner? Do you do the books? Do you actually have knowledge they do well? Or are you equating a lot of people with financial success, or what is commonly called having a guess?

“Any business owner who designs his business model to provide the minimum level of service to a basically captive clientele because he’s the only game in town, is an idiot. And he deserves to be called on it. “

Point out where I said he was a genius or where I made that inference.
ibast says:

02:52pm | 01/07/11

“A pub is an area where people from the small town go to get pissed. That is all. Don’t romanticise it. That is all it is.”

Nope, your’e just wrong there. A bad pub is like this. A good country pub is a place where locals meet to socialise. Alcohol might be part of that, but it’s not the driver. I’ve been to enough of both types to know.
MarK says:

03:13pm | 01/07/11

“Alcohol might be part of that, but it’s not the driver.”

You are kidding right?
marley says:

03:41pm | 01/07/11

@MarK - nope, not a pub owner, but worked in a bar for a while as a student. And the rules were pretty simple - come in to work, sweep the floor, wipe the tables, then serve beer, take money and wipe the counter regularly. And at closing, empty the ashtrays. Seemed to work pretty well.

Sure, the owner gave a shit - if he wanted to attract more people, keep them longer and sell more beer to them, he made the pub more comfortable to be in. And it seems to me that a pub which deters potential clients is going to have a much narrower bottom line than one the tries to attract them.
ibast says:

03:44pm | 01/07/11

MarkK, not in the slightest. People might say they are going to the pub to have a beer, but that’s not really the driver. You can have a beer by yourself at home. You are either going to the pub with someone or meeting someone there. The better pubs recognise this.
ibast says:

03:45pm | 01/07/11

MarkK, not in the slightest. People might say they are going to the pub to have a beer, but that’s not really the driver. You can have a beer by yourself at home. You are either going to the pub with someone or meeting someone there. The better pubs recognise this.
n_dude says:

04:05pm | 01/07/11

MarK, you wouldn’t happen to be the owner of the said pub would you?
MarK says:

04:13pm | 01/07/11

“MarK, you wouldn’t happen to be the owner of the said pub would you? “

Nope.

I would have emptied the ashtrays. Actually I would have got a barmaid to do it. And I would not put the league on the TV. The AFL yeh. Not the league.
Front bit says:

07:42pm | 01/07/11

Think about it. The pub is probably struggling, like so many. Could well be run by the receiver-appointed managers.
As someone with a bit of form in this area, I’d suggest the managers might be trying to run the business down so they can buy it. Cheap.
By the way Anthony, name the damned pub.
It’s a review, you won’t get sued.
Chris_D says:

09:11pm | 01/07/11

MarK, you’ve nailed it.

@Marley, maybe the owner/manager is a genius who saw a niche market for dirty, cussing, thong wearing nobody’s who couldn’t get past the front door of the other establishments. Just a thought. Keeping his overheads down, and providing just what those who go there want, and not wasting electricty warming the place up for weekenders since the regulars like their beer cold and their ambience colder. I don’t know, and neither do you.
@Will, how the fuck do you know who is the 20% in that pub? For all you know Packer Jnr might go there for a quiet beer and be putting thousands through the TAB. The author didn’t mention pokies, TAB etc so who knows where the publicans income comes from.

This is what i am learning from reading “The Punch”. Everyone has an opinion (fine) on things they probably don’t really know much about (like shitty pubs in bum-fuck nowhere), and if it doesn’t suit them then it’s wrong and should be changed until it fits their opinion.
- christian Watters says:
  
  01:32pm | 01/07/11
  
  I so agree, Im in country WA and the difference between a good pub and a shit one is so small, all it takes is a bit of effort and a step back and look at it from a visitors perspective. A great pub can make a town
  
  Reply
- Tim says:
  
  01:36pm | 01/07/11
  
  It sounds no different to the Ivy. Except that the patrons didn’t pretend to have class.
  
  Reply
- AdamC says:
  
  01:53pm | 01/07/11
  
  So th pub’s a dump, don’t go there again. Whaddya want them to do - tell the crude sheep farmers to dial down the swears because a couple of ‘hairy sheilahs’ are on the premises? Crikey moses!
  
  Ant, you have managed to be snobby towards both poncy snowfield tossers and salt-of-the-earth country folk in the same article. You’re not leaving yourself much of a constituency there.
  
  Reply
AdamC says:

02:26pm | 01/07/11

I dunno, MarK, I think Tory’s preferences would be pretty much congruent with those of your average drinker. And I don’t think you neef to have worked behind a bar to be able to tell a good establishment from a bad one.

Tory, it always shocks me how many businesses, especially hospitality businesses, are shockingly badly run. When you consider the investment of capital and time the proprietors of these places put into them, its amazing how so often they let them go so far south.
Tory Shepherd says:

03:23pm | 01/07/11

Hey MarK. I know my unrequited love is what makes you so snarky, so I’ll ignore the nasty tone of your voice and try to answer reasonably.

I’ve owned no small country hotels or any hotels for that matter. I’ve managed about three bars. I worked behind bars on and off for about ten years.

I’ve spent much more time in bars than the average person, I’d wager. Also my father for years ran and owned hospitality establishments including pubs.

I’ve dealt with hundreds of drunk customer complaints, including this one right now, I reckon.

If you want to take the pronoun ‘you’ to mean that I’m claiming everyone in the world wants the same thing, well you just go for it.

What do you think my prejudices are in this specific instance?
The Badger says:

03:35pm | 01/07/11

Someone forgot to take their pills this morning.
MarK says:

03:48pm | 01/07/11

Snarky? Unrequited love (that is the second time you have accused me of this, do you need love, why the recurring reference….but I digress)? And you can pick “the tone” of my voice from my written comment on this blog you claim.

lolwat? Why make supercilious statements like that and then try to play the good cop with “..so I’ll ignore the nasty tone of your voice and try to answer reasonably. “

Seriously? Have a think about what you type. Think hard. Then look up double standards or hypocrisy. Either one will help you see the light.

Since I am a lovely person that is reasonable I will happily reply. Think of this being said by Hendo reading a bulletin. Level voice, no inflection, just reporting the news not making it.

Harden up. I call bullshit is something you do weekly. Why is it so bad when people call YOU on it. Why so defensive?

“You want a pub that you can go down to on your own, have a schooner while you talk to the person behind the bar, and not feel threatened. It’s really not hard to make a place feel warm and friendly. “

The above are your prejudices. Not everyone wants something even remotely close to that. Don’t think every place has to be the clone of your ideal.

I am not how else to read it. If you meant to say “I” then use “I”. If you didn’t then don’t blame others for your lack of precision. Qualify what you mean then. All “I” have done is take it at face value.

As to your experience it seems fine. I am glad you found it so easy to run perfectly good places although I note you have not run your own which as always is where the real operators come out to play. Before you ask yes I have. And did fine. Ran it as a slaughterhouse. Made a packet. Twas fun but NOT easy.

You, meaning YOU, are much to glib and dismiss too easily the mountain of work that goes into running any drinking hole. You should know better.

Oh by the way in case you have missed it I am a dry alcoholic. Snide remarks are more than welcome though. I have no issue with it and indeed are happy to be made a object of ridicule and mockery. You go for it, I really do mean that absolutely no sarcasm in that statement whatsoever. True. I deserve every bit of it for my life choices and illness.

But what I do offence at is you seem to think that someone that disagrees with your point of view must be drunk. Sort of make it look a little bit like a whinge at being challenged does it not? Still if that’s the way you roll go for it. Not that you want to come off as snarky or anything.
MarK says:

04:10pm | 01/07/11

As an aside to the editorial staff why is this particular thread all over the place. Even I am getting confused, not that confusing me is a great challenge. The order the comments are coming out is weird.
- Tory Shepherd says:
  
  02:04pm | 01/07/11
  
  My local small country pub is awesome, and about to get more awesome, and it makes all the difference in the world. It can be isolating if the only watering hole within (almost) walking distance is unwelcoming - and if it’s unwelcoming for a robust bastard like Ant, it’s probably unwelcoming for heaps of the locals as well.
  
  You want a pub that you can go down to on your own, have a schooner while you talk to the person behind the bar, and not feel threatened. It’s really not hard to make a place feel warm and friendly.
  
  I guess it’s a free market out there, but I also think that a pub owner is doing a real disservice to their community if they’re creating a space that people can feel comfortable in.
  
  As for what to do about it, who knows. Complain, sure, but it doesn’t sound like it would help in this case! TripAdvisor, maybe? At least then people are forewarned!
  
  Reply
MarK says:

02:17pm | 01/07/11

“It’s really not hard to make a place feel warm and friendly. “

Out of interest Tory how many small country hotels have you owned?

How many hotels?

How many bars have you managed?

How long have worked behind a bar for?

How many other businesses have you run?

How often have you had to deal with customer complaints, in person, while they are drunk etc?

I call bullshit on your statement and the one preceding it. This - “You want a pub that you can go down to on your own, have a schooner while you talk to the person behind the bar, and not feel threatened.” - is what YOU want. Not what everyone else wants.

Don’t presume to know what people want because of your own prejudices.
Anubis says:

04:00pm | 01/07/11

Im sorry Tory but ICB on that.

You said “and if it’s unwelcoming for a robust bastard like Ant”

Judging by a few of Sharwood’s most recent articles a “robust bastard” certainly doesn’t sound right. I think a Big Girl’s Blouse would be more fitting. Monty Python’s Lumberjack song springs to mind here.
Anthony Sharwood says:

08:15am | 02/07/11

ICB on it too Tory. You’re right Anubis
- Glen says:
  
  02:05pm | 01/07/11
  
  Whoa whoa let me get this straight. You guys passed over the “tosspot ski crowd” resort (fair enough) for a blue collar bogan pub? I know stereotypes are wrong and all, but FFS what did you expect?
  
  Its one or the other at the fields. Suck it up princesses!
  
  And if this is some kind of battle cry for “metroing up” pubs outside greater Sydney, having seen some of these regional pubs and clientele… good luck with that.
  
  Reply
Rover of North Cooma says:

03:50pm | 01/07/11

I agree. Ant, if there’s a pub that you like in a nearby town, go to that one.

You say that the dirty one was “full of people swearing”. Well, if it was full, the owners are doing something right for the people who like this type of pub.

Horses for courses. There are pubs and bars I won’t set foot in, but I don’t think the owner should have to change them to the kind of place I like.
- Neal says:
  
  02:07pm | 01/07/11
  
  I’ve noticed this myself. I stayed at a pub in Evans Head just south of Ballina. It’s the only pub in town and it’s disgusting. The only place they spend money is in the Gambling room. The toilets were ancient with bare wires on the wiring for the hand dryer. I raise to wiring issue with the bar manager who showed no interest so I took a photo and sent it to the local Workcover Office who very professionally range me back the next day to query my complaint then contacted me to let me know the issue had been dealt with.
  These pubs are taking money out of the communities they are in so they should put some of it back.
  
  Reply
MarK says:

02:25pm | 01/07/11

Dobber.

Shenanigans.

Bastard.

What an unaustralian thing to do dob in a publican. May you have no luck on the horses and contract shingles.

Fair dinkum, dob someone into workcover because the shithouse had a bare wire. This country is going down hill fast.

“These pubs are taking money out of the communities they are in so they should put some of it back. “

You are joking right? Kidding yah? Of all the erroneous misconceived ideas I have seen today, including Gillard backtracking on her spin and Ludwig claiming he is trying to make the live export industry “sustainable”, this takes the cake.

What the hell? They take money out of the community? They should give it back? When did running a small business, any business, become a volunteering work for the community feel good program.

No. No way and nuh.

Wrong pal. Just wrong. Tell that to the local fisherman of Evans Head that he should give some back. Tell it to the newsagent. Then tell it to yourself.

You are taking money from the community right now. If you have your own business give it back. If you earn a wage demand a pay cut and see to it the balance goes to the community for whatever you like.

What a joke.
Chris L says:

03:52pm | 01/07/11

Hey Mark, aren’t you one of those who complains he should be getting some of his taxes back?

I think you should be the one to test the bare wires to see if it administers a lethal jolt or not.
MarK says:

04:08pm | 01/07/11

“Hey Mark, aren’t you one of those who complains he should be getting some of his taxes back?”

No.

Are you one of those that makes stuff up because your argument is weak and vapid?

Do continue though. Oh hang on - that’s a death threat!!!

OMG.

I better call the police. Can’t have this in political discourse.

Gosh. Tony Windsor doesn’t have to put up with it. Climate scientists (LAWL) in Canberra don’t have to put with it. Wow.

Still you didn’t call me a fascist. Now that would be bad.
Tim says:

04:43pm | 01/07/11

MarK,
you sound like you need a beer.
MarK says:

04:59pm | 01/07/11

Don’t drink.

Hate dobbers.

Especially precious little dobbers that send photos to workcover.
Chris L says:

06:25pm | 01/07/11

Death threat? Certainly not. Your statement was to the effect that the bare wire was no big deal so I simply thought you could be the one to prove it. I certainly wasn’t being so harsh as to curse your luck on the horses or wish a disease upon you.

Besides, your posts are entertaining and I would miss them
jg says:

08:23pm | 01/07/11

I don’t generally call people ‘fuckwits’, but markK, you are without doubt, a fuckwit.

Lighten up bloke, people are allowed have opinions contrary to yours.
MarK says:

08:59pm | 01/07/11

Ohhhh jg

Well there ya go.

Love it actually. Did it take you ong to think up that post? Or did it just come natural to ya honey?

The article complains about people swearing in a pub and what do we have here - ROFLMAO - some little twit calling me a fuckwit in open forum and it is ok to print.

IRONY…..mmm I feed on it and wash it down with jg’s tears. Yummy.

All is right in the world.

Right back at ya jg hope ya stub ah toe dude.

And Chris dear Chris. That was a death threat according to the gospel according to Windsor and Canberra climate scientists that have agreed on a consensus and convinced various people like Tory that the science is settled. They get real scared at less than that.
Chris L says:

01:20am | 02/07/11

@MarK - accusations of blasphemy against climate science shows how truly degenerate you are!

BTW I did briefly look through some recent articles to see if you were one of those conservatives who whinge about paying taxes and about needing it back, and you weren’t. So my apologies if you feel affronted…. or asided.

If you feel the need to crow over my mistake I will understand (and laugh if you are funny about it).
MarK says:

10:16am | 02/07/11

Don’t need to crow over your mistake. I don’t feel affronted. I don’t feel asided because that means nothing.

I feel correct, again. It is a burden I have to live with but I get by. don’t weep for me. Weep for yourself. And try to improve. It is all about self improvement. One day you will come back and have a real argument sans death threats. Then you will be l33t.

I will leave the AGW stuff alone. Zealots are starting to bore me. I am much more interested in the general attacks on free speech we see now and double standards in criticisms by the ABC where to argue against the religion of global warming you must have climate credentials, whatever they are, but to be in the pro camp you must have the corrct speaking notes and a pulse. Well the pulse is optional.
- iansand says:
  
  02:16pm | 01/07/11
  
  The coasters on the ceiling are pretty cool.
  
  Reply
- CJ Morgan says:
  
  02:19pm | 01/07/11
  
  Ant’s spot on. As a reasonably (ahem) avid visitor to country pubs, I can attest to the fact that they vary markedly in attractiveness. Having known a few publicans trying to make a living out of these establishments, I can safely say that it’s entirely down to the publican. Country pubs don’t need to be flash and generally can’t afford to be, but it doesn’t cost much to ensure they are clean, warm and welcoming. The humblest bush pub can put on the best feed, and the behaviour of the clientele is very much a function of the publican’s own standards.
  
  I live in a little country town where there are two pubs: the one where I drink is a delightful, cosy hostelry run by two older ladies who don’t tolerate any nonsense, are welcoming to all and serve up great country food at good prices; the other I wouldn’t send my dog to - it’s rough, loud, dirty and the food’s lousy. Funnily enough, it was a great country pub until the current owners took it over a couple of years ago.
  
  Visitors to our town who stop in for a beer or a countery must certainly gain quite disparate impressions of it, depending on which pub they stop at!
  
  Reply
- ibast says:
  
  02:22pm | 01/07/11
  
  I do understand Ant’s frustration here. I travel in regional NSW a lot and the nature of the pubs in a town can make or break your opinion of the town. For me it’s usually the food quality and beer selection that frustrates. There is some atrocious food dished up in regional pubs, and whilst I don’t expect them to have a full selection of trendy beers I loathe only having the usual two unpalatable options available. And I’m not a snob. I usually get on really well with the locals. It’s just that if the licensee keeps a scrappy pub, he attracts scrappy patronage. Fortunately most towns have more than one pub and it doesn’t take long to figure out what types go to which pub.
  
  Reply
- Septimus says:
  
  02:30pm | 01/07/11
  
  People swear in a pub???
  
  ‘It really was offensive’.
  
  Ant’s life is becoming more like a soap opera every day.
  
  ‘Big Girly Man’ springs to mind.
  
  Reply
- RyaN says:
  
  02:32pm | 01/07/11
  
  “Should the locals put pressure on the publican to clean up his act?” maybe they do this on purpose to keep the snobby up themselves city slickers out of their pub.
  Dirty pub filled with locals and friends or pub filled with self indulgent, impatient head up their own arse tossers? That is the real question.
  
  Reply
- Brizben says:
  
  02:35pm | 01/07/11
  
  I would write a carefully worded letter to the local newspaper (or newsletter) putting a positive spin on the parts of the town you liked, and less positive spin on the parts you didn’t like. The locals will get the message and understand your concerns. This might give the locals a little push to say the right words to the publican.
  
  I personally find country pubs depressing. It seems that no matter how nice the pub and how thick the steaks there always seems to be some locals that never leave. To me country pubs really illustrate the direct negative effects of alcohol on the local community in a way city pubs can never do.
  
  “Beer, of course, is actually a depressant. But poor people will never stop hoping otherwise.” - Kurt Vonnegut
  
  Reply
- Im kevin and Im hear to help says:
  
  02:47pm | 01/07/11
  
  Stay at the Australia Pub in Kalgoorlie,its bit of a drive but cheep and clean,mostly the weather is good and no traffic lights once your out of town
  
  Reply
- gg says:
  
  02:48pm | 01/07/11
  
  first world problem
  
  Reply
Rover of North Cooma says:

04:49pm | 01/07/11

Classic White Whine.
- No 1 Rosie says:
  
  02:57pm | 01/07/11
  
  Competition is needed at all times!
  
  We have become a nanny state, so perhaps if Punch complained to the Minority Govt they can order the Pub owners to clean up their act to satisfy those that want to go there.
  
  Reply
- Bar Wench says:
  
  03:06pm | 01/07/11
  
  My pub is the only one in my area without pokies… It’s a social venue, cleaned up a few years back but some may still describe it as ‘grungy’. I have found that our patrons appreciate being able to walk in, be greeted by name and then sit down to find their drink of choice placed in front of them without even having to ask. ‘How’s the missus/kids/bit on the side’- that sort of thing. If you’re doing your job right you tend to know a bit about them, and how to at least act like you’re interested.
  If you feel welcome in a place (and i do agree with Tori in saying that women are particularly sensitive to being singled out for harassment/ misplaced attention) you are so much more willing to forgive the sticky carpet and the average meals. Service is where it starts and ends for me, and my patrons bloody love our pub.
  
  Reply
jimmy says:

04:30pm | 01/07/11

Bar Wench your not Erica from the Jamberoo Pub are you ? Because the way you run your pub is the way it should be. And Jamberoo pub do it as good as most i’d reckon.
Bar Wench says:

06:05pm | 01/07/11

Nah Jimmy, I can’t say I am… Mine’s an establishment just out of Hobart.
But it sounds as though this Erica bird is a good sort, so thanks
- atthepub says:
  
  03:14pm | 01/07/11
  
  A pub reflects what lives in the town. I wish you good luck on this mission.
  
  Reply
- nossy says:
  
  03:15pm | 01/07/11
  
  $85 bucks a room ! Good grief did that come with or without cockies ? hahahaah
  
  Reply
- The Badger says:
  
  03:27pm | 01/07/11
  
  Country folk,
  You’ve gotta love em.
  
  Cletus is passing by Billy Bob’s hay barn one day when, through a gap in the door, he sees Billy Bob doing a slow and sensual striptease in front of an old green John Deere tractor.
  
  Buttocks clenched, he performs a slow pirouette, and gently slides off first the right strap of his overalls, followed by the left. He then hunches his shoulders forward and in a classic striptease move, lets his overalls fall down to his hips, revealing a torn and frayed plaid shirt.
  
  Then, grabbing both sides of his shirt, he rips it apart to reveal his stained T-shirt underneath. With a final flourish, he tears the T-shirt from his body, and hurls his baseball cap onto a pile of hay.
  Having seen enough, Cletus rushes in and says, “What the heckre ya doing, Billy Bob?”
  “Good Lord, Cletus, ya scared the bejeezers out of me,” says an obviously embarrassed Billy Bob.
  
  “But me ‘n the Ol’ Lady been havin trouble lately in the bedroom d’partment, and the therapist suggested I do something sexy to a tractor.”
  
  Don’t make me explain this to you.
  
  Reply
AnthonyG says:

04:51pm | 01/07/11

Their not talking about little house on the Prairy Badger. This is Australia. How many people have you met called Billy Bob
fairsfair says:

05:04pm | 01/07/11

bahahahah!

A Tractor! I got it Badge, I got it.
The Badger says:

05:20pm | 01/07/11

They’re as in they are Anthony. (who are they anyway?)
I did expect you to get it and I must say, I am a bit disappointed that you didn’t.

PS I’ve met an equal number of people named Billy Bob and Cletus
Big kiss for you
AnthonyG says:

05:54pm | 01/07/11

Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
- Anubis says:
  
  03:52pm | 01/07/11
  
  It sounds like this pub has an absentee owner who has appointed a manager to look after it. If the owner were actually in charge and was concerned about making a profit then you would see some changes like: Ash trays emptied regularly, empty glasses collected, tables wiped down occasionally, maybe a broom over the floor between busy periods. Not hard to do if you have conscientious staff members.
  
  Not speaking from an outside perspective here as I worked in hospitality for almost twenty years and have managed pubs/clubs and restaurants. Regardless of the caliber of the client, good bar staff supported by a capable manager can turn a dive of a pub around with minimal effort - even without having to go through a total renovation.
  
  Reply
- AnthonyG says:
  
  04:37pm | 01/07/11
  
  Just good beer and tidy Barmaids should do the trick
  
  Reply
- TED says:
  
  04:44pm | 01/07/11
  
  Why didnt you ask the other patron’s to stop swearing, send the food back that was burnt or ask the bartender to empty the cigarette butts? Moaning here is not going to help. Besides why dont you write a letter to the pub, the council, the chamber of commerce with suggestions…...
  
  Reply
- Kate says:
  
  06:09pm | 01/07/11
  
  The food at the Ettamogah Pub in SE Queensland is quite good actually!
  
  Also, hate to say it Ant but if you’re eating in a pub and it’s not a swank inner-city fine dining establishment, you’re going to hear swearing. Personally, swearing doesn’t offend me so I don’t care.
  If you’re staying overnight and the rooms are crappy, it’s worth mentioning to reception in a polite way, so they can clean it up. Not sure that complaining about the other guests will fix anything though.
  
  I don’t mind pubs but there are some that I’m scared to go in. There’s one in Port Melbourne which is basically pitch dark inside and filled with creepy looking old guys who spend all day on the pokies. I went in once to put a bet on the Brownlow and the guy at the TAB section didn’t know who Brent Harvey was. For shame.
  
  Reply
- jag says:
  
  08:10pm | 01/07/11
  
  Pubs in this country are cold, univiting places and locals seem to resent people drinking in them.
  
  In comparison, English pubs are warm, inviting, and you feel right at home.
  
  Can’t wait to move back to England. Australia is becoming to brash and uncouth.
  
  Reply
henry says:

02:37pm | 04/07/11

Jag, please explain. English pubs are praised often and I’m sure they must do something right but what ? I visited a few in Oxford and London and found them pleasant enough but they didn’t seem that much different to similar pubs in Melbourne. What gives ? Sure, there are horrible pubs everywhere, but so too there are good ones. Are English pubs really so superior ?
- stephen says:
  
  08:25pm | 01/07/11
  
  Pubs, country or otherwise, should be clean enough to bring your girl to, though I’ve found the TAB section to be the worst.
  That’s OK, it’ll keep me out of them.
  
  Reply
MarK says:

09:05pm | 01/07/11

You have higher criteria for girls than I do then.
stephen says:

09:23pm | 01/07/11

Girls like a clean table to lie back on.
MarK says:

10:20pm | 01/07/11

Different strokes for different folks I guess.
- Chris_D says:
  
  08:30pm | 01/07/11
  
  I’m not really sure what the point of this article actually is. From what i can glean from it, you didn’t want to hang around with “tosspots”, found the antithesis to this, and then still weren’t entirely happy. The problem here seems to be with the author, not the pub. At least not according to those who obviously seemed to be happy with the “quaintness” of it. You are whingeing because, even though the chicken parmy was pretty good, the edges “were a bit burnt”. And there was too much swearing at the cut-price watering hole you chose to frequent to save some dollars. Id say get over yourself, princess.
  
  Reply
MarK says:

09:03pm | 01/07/11

Oh all it here to do is to start a fight on Friday.

I obliged and got Tory angry to boot. Think it went quite well actually.
Chris_D says:

09:44pm | 01/07/11

@MarK, that makes sense. If I’m watching the NRL and you switch it over to AFL, fistycuffs is whatcha gonna git!
- Speed says:
  
  08:56pm | 01/07/11
  
  Chris, the point is, imo, that there a large amount of stay at home tourists, who like a bit of the rustic, but don’t want a s.. fight to eat or stay in.
  and as for general tidyness well, if I go into a place and it looks like crap, I leave.
  
  Reply
- Kev "Sausage" Howard says:
  
  09:03pm | 01/07/11
  
  you city slickers don’t know real pubs, the best you’ve got is caffe late in your greenie suburbs, where I come from our pubs are genuine and true blue aussie, heck my pub is worse than the one you described, but I honestly couldn’t care when I’m havin’ a chug of toohey’s!
  
  Reply
- Goldenfaber says:
  
  09:36pm | 01/07/11
  
  Tis a tourist nightmare in a way. I travel to cities though where you have a choice. So they don’t use condoms .....you are laughing at everybody….i challenge you to alllow this to be on your site.
  
  Reply
- Richard says:
  
  11:16pm | 01/07/11
  
  Your description of that pub Ant is what visiting foreigners will be saying about our internet in about 10 years I reckon.
  
  Because its the same principle. Whenever a monopoly is established, whenever there is a lack of competition, quality inevitably suffer. It goes downhill, it happens in every single circumstance, its an inexorable fact of life.
  
  The NBN monopoly is a terrible idea, and I don’t know why so few other people can seem to grasp that manifest fact when its as plain as the nose on my face. Monopolies are never a good idea.
  
  Reply
- Kath Grant says:
  
  10:24am | 02/07/11
  
  The Ettamogah Pub was originally a Ken Maynard cartoon which featured in Australasian Post.. It was rough as and anything but clean. The first one, which was built at Table Top, was modelled on the cartoon..
  
  Reply
- len says:
  
  11:56am | 02/07/11
  
  Walk in and yell out, “Where can I get a vet, I think my horse has Hendra Virus”! Touch as many bits of the bar that you can and have a drink out of some one else’s glass. and visit the toilets. For a start, that should clear the joint out. Next thing, phone The health department, and they’ll close the Pub, fumigate it, and if they dont order that it be burnt down, will order it closed until it is thoroughly cleaned up with bleach. When the Pub re-opens, the health dept will be there every day. That is way to clean the dump up my friends.
  
  Reply
- NicoleG says:
  
  01:54pm | 02/07/11
  
  Berridale?
  
  Reply
Anthony Sharwood says:

03:40pm | 02/07/11

no comment. By which i mean…
NicoleG says:

05:40pm | 02/07/11

I hear ya Ant
Zach says:

11:32pm | 02/07/11

And I was going to bet the Snow Goose.
- graham says:
  
  02:09pm | 02/07/11
  
  The Sunshine Coast Ettamogah is a trap for young players where a schooner costs more than a VB tallie at the bottle shop up the road, and ‘service’ is a word they haven’t learned yet. I’ve been there once. Plenty!
  My local is a place I go to in order to drink with friends. If the floor needs sweeping, I don’t care. If the barmaid’s topless, I don’t care. And if there are ciggie butts outside, well I don’t drink outside. And anyway, ciggie butts? Ant is showing us his real self. Stay home, Ant. People smoke, people swear, people don’t demand the Hoover every ten minutes. It’s called a “PUB” for a reason. It’s PUBLIC! And the public are grubs. Who drink. Like me.
  
  Reply
- stockinbingal roo says:
  
  07:11pm | 02/07/11
  
  Country pubs attract people who do not understand that the pub is a business. Too many times they will be the ones sitting on the wrong side of the bar, taking it easy, so when the pubs starts going backwards what do they do but sell the 1 or 2 pokies, then after that they go broke, the single pub town loses it’s history and there you go. If you are a slacko city idiot do not buy a pub in the country, we don’t want you ruining our heritage and our only public house.
  
  Reply
- Martin says:
  
  03:12pm | 03/07/11
  
  Stockinbingal roo. You’re right. Country pubs are for country people. The local people keep the place going, they are there everyday. How could you expect a pub in a small town to cater for your needs when your type of customer turns up once a month? The locals get there to have a smoke have a punt and a drink, swear carry on with their own in jokes and poke fun at nongs that turn up there from the city. They don’t really appreciate blow ins. If you’re a city type go to the RSL or Bowling club or the like, they wiil be cleaner etc and the food will be drab but edible. Wadling out into the the sticks expecting to find an inner city metrosexual pub iis laughable to the extreme.
  
  Reply
- Aussie Flood Refugee says:
  
  10:10pm | 03/07/11
  
  I have worked at the Conargo Pub, and whilst I was extremely excited to be working at this “institution”, I have been nothing but disappointed, filthy, terrible publican who lives on premises, no one goes there anymore, the locals are great, but it is never a “busy” pub. Lucky to stay open past 11pm on a friday and 9pm on a Saturday. Have only just finished working there.
  
  Reply
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