By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
After South Hay Hotel was robbed, Australian Hotels Association NSW (AHA NSW) has decided to cover the $2000 included in the robbery that was being donated to charity.
It has been revealed that the hotel, in the western Riverina region of New South Wales, was robbed on September 26, with the hotel’s takings being stolen, along with several charity tins for Can Assist, totalling $2000 in community donations.
Can Assist is a New South Wales charity dedicated to providing assistance to people in regional New South Wales with cancer, helping them and their families with accommodation and financial aid when getting treatment.
Upon learning of the robbery, AHA NSW decided to cover the $2000 donation to the charity.
Stealing a business’s money is bad enough, but to steal community donations set aside for those who need it most is a particularly low act,” said John Green, director of liquor and policing for AHA NSW.
“Can Assist does some amazing work with people suffering from cancer in regional NSW and we wanted to make sure that they did not go wanting because of the despicable actions of a few criminals.”
Along with the hotel’s takings and the donation money, the staff’s tip jars were raided, along with the kitty for the pub’s footy tipping competition.
“The Vitucci’s are hardworking publicans who run more than a great country pub,” Green said. “This pub is really a central part of the community.”
The community has rallied around the hotel since the robbery, and Green is encouraging anyone with any information to contact Hay police.