THE heart of Drake’s community could be lost after the owners of the Lunatic Hotel announced they would shut shop following years of abuse.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Desley and Bob Kane say they’ve been forced to contend with seven years of salacious rumours and threats and decided enough was enough.
“How many years have you got to put up with it – every day we get up and wonder what bull we’re going to have to deal with now,” Ms Kane said.
They say a faceless minority has hounded them to a point that they felt it wasn’t worth carrying on.
Online bullying, threats of physical violence, threats to their business, anonymous calls to the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing and accusations of embezzlement is only a sliver of what they say they’ve put up with.
The hotel has raised $120,000 for the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service in the past eight years – figures Westpac’s books clearly show.
Despite that, Desley has faced accusations of pocketing funds.
“I think it’s a tall poppy thing,” Bob said.
“They don’t realise we’re in here 18 hours a day.”
The couple say they believe they are contending with eight or nine locals, most have kept their anonymity throughout the stoush.
The breaking point came on Anzac Day this year when they say they believe someone deliberately “sabotaged” their toilet facilities.
“Someone blocked the toilets and complained to council that there were kids playing in sewerage – I don’t know why nobody gets punished for lies,” Ms Kane said.
Since announcing their plans the couple has been inundated with support, garnering 6,900 supporters on Facebook and dozens of comments from people devastated by the move.
Craig Taylor, who moved to Drake a year ago, said he’s “dumfounded and disappointed” by what has gone on.
His daughter has started working in the kitchen and Mr Taylor says she’s distraught about the announcement.
Another local, Marcus Barry, said “it will destroy the town I think” while Drake fire crew member and local for 30-years Terry Keft said “you couldn’t ask for better people”.
The Kane’s will only keep their accommodation open to backpackers and have the hotel on the market.
“One door closes and another one opens I guess,” Desley said.
“We’re not getting any younger – we haven’t had a day off in five-years. It was a big decision that wasn’t made easily,” she said.