Everyone’s new favourite watering hole, Jervis Bay Brewing Company, opened their doors on December 19 just in time for the busy summer holiday season. The excellent beer, live music, chilled atmosphere and pop-up food vans were an instant hit with both locals and visitors.
No one could’ve predicted what happened next.
After the massive Currowan fire roared its way from one end of the Shoalhaven to the other on New Years Eve, a Tourist Leave Zone forced all visitors to evacuate the area. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them have not come back.
While almost all local businesses have suffered some kind of financial loss, whether directly or indirectly, we know that things will get better and with that in mind we can focus on helping those who have lost so much. The Resilience beer fundraiser is one such project.
Resilience Beer For Bushfire Relief
The Resilience Beer project is a fundraising initiative that began in the United States after the California Bushfires. Brewers who sign up all brew the same beer – Resilience Pale Ale – and donate proceeds to bushfire relief.
Almost 200 brewers have signed up for the Australian version of the fundraiser. Here on the South Coast, Jervis Bay Brewing Company has teamed up with Cupitt’s Brewery in Ulladulla and Dangerous Ales in Milton to brew 850 litres of resistance Pale Ale.
One dollar from every schooner sold will be donated to Ryefield Hops whose entire crop was wiped out by bushfire.
Holiday Here This Year
Meanwhile, if you’re still deciding where to go on your next family holiday or weekend away, please consider visiting one of the many struggling communities affected by bushfire. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that some operators are experiencing a 40% drop in forward bookings, a figure that will surely rise with the effects of the Coronavirus travel ban yet to be fully felt. So great is the need, Tourism Australia recently launched a $20 million dollar advertising campaign encouraging Australians to ‘holiday here this year.’
So, with Easter School Holidays on the horizon and the June long weekend no too far away either, it’s time to get planning and come and visit us on the South Coast. We can’t wait to see you!
Need inspiration? Check out some of our other recent posts.