Sunshine Valley GazetteFREE Local Matters | 10,000 Copies Fortnightly | Wednesday June 17, 2020 | Edition 205 | www.sunshinevalleygazette.com.au Distributed to Palmwoods, Woombye, Nambour, Chevallum, Mooloolah, Editorial:
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[email protected] 0400 069 711 Montville brews up warmth and friendship in a COVID-19 landscape by Cameron Outridge MONTVILLE’S community spirit pro- vided inspiration through the tourist town’s dark days of COVID lockdown, according to locals. “Montville has a very small residen- tial population but they have been out in force supporting their local shops,” said Montville Chamber of Commerce Secretary Shiralee Cooper. “The locals — I could just hug them — them and the coffee shop owners.” Ms Cooper said coffee shops, in par- ticular, had provided an amazing con- nection to normalcy for people. “I think it was very good for people to be able to have their morning coffee,” she said. “Having those few shops staying open through COVID has been wonderful. We’re so impressed that people have kept their businesses running and shown the resilience to be there for the rest of the community.” Mountain Bean Cafe owner Wayne Bluck faced a particularly rugged climb. The rookie brewer took on his busi- ness just as COVID struck and watched the normally steady tourism trade drop Small town spirit ... A regular crew of locals gather for a catch-up at Mountain Bean Cafe Montville. Wayne Bluck, front, serves his grateful customers from left John McLennan, with Rosie the schnauzer, Garth Riley, Helen Inman, Jane Holmes and Michele Vermeulen.