Community stands up for the Lowmead Hotel
THERE was an overwhelming outpouring of support for Rod Sorrenson who claimed he lost everything in a fire that burnt down the house he was living in three weeks ago.
Since the fire he has been homeless and sleeping on a mattress under a tarp.
However views were mixed on social media and many locals rallied behind the Lowmead Hotel; coming out in support of the local pub.
One man from Lowmead, James Keyworth, said he felt the community in Lowmead had been unfairly tarnished by the article, saying the community always came together and pitched in to support each other.
"The Lowmead Hotel is the centre of the community. It helps everyone out and is an essential part of the community," he said.
Mr Keyworth said the hotel was always prepared to chip in and help out when times were tough.
"We've been through floods and fires and in times of struggle the Lowmead Hotel pitches in the most. The community will always come together for the right reasons," he said.
"The business is the only thing in our community; it's our general store, our post office and our meeting point."
He raised concerns over the character of Mr Sorrenson.
On Facebook Ben Richards wrote: "Tracey and Shawn would have to be the nicest publicans that we have had at the Lowmead Hotel in 10 years…Shawn and Tracey have helped my mother and myself during the floods for food and smokes when we have been unable to get to town for supplies. Thank you Tracey and Shawn as you are tops in my eyes."
The owner of the Lowmead Hotel, Tracey Corson-Crook, said she did not wish what happened to Mr Sorrenson on anybody, but was disturbed by the cowardly abuse she received from anonymous callers after the article ran.
Ms Corson-Crook said she had very good reasons for banning Mr Sorrenson from her hotel but did not want to pass judgment on him.
Jodie Healy wrote: "Our publicans are kind hearted people who don't deserve the bad rap they got in the media. His accusations have angered the majority of the townsfolk who know him."
Source: The Gladstone Observer, Declan Cooley, 15th October 2015
Originally published as: Community stands up for the Lowmead Hotel
