ALMOST 100 per cent of patrons attending the Terminus Hotel in Wycheproof are complying with a COVID-19 vaccination trial rules.
The pub is one of 14 regional events and venues taking part in the Victorian Government’s Vaccinated Economy Trial, which runs until the end of the week.
Venues and events in Bass Coast Shire, Warrnambool, Buloke, Greater Bendigo, Pyrenees and East Gippsland were selected because of their high vaccination rates and low number of COVID-19 cases.
The trial is testing the new requirements for businesses reopening at the 70 per cent double-dose vaccination thresholds outlined in the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan.
Terminus Hotel owner Terry Casey said 95 per cent of patrons were positive towards the trial requirements to enter the premises.
“We’ve had a little bit of negative feedback, but that’s to be expected,” he said.
“Not everyone is going to agree with the decisions that are made.”
As part of the trial, the hotel could welcome a bigger capacity of patrons (30 people indoors and 100 outdoors).
They were also required to fill out a log recording the date, whether the person was an adult or child, and whether the person had a digital or paper copy of their COVID-19 digital certificate.
The certificate is available to those who are double-vaccinated.
Mr Casey said the changes to his business to be involved in the trial were minimal, with the only requirement being that the hotel had a COVIDSafe plan in place.
“As a business owner, employer, and father, I decided to do it as a duty of care,” he said.
“I owe that to everyone that comes into this place: the community, the patrons and the staff.
“I think it’s important to go on top of that now, the earlier we get on top of it, the earlier we can make it work.”
Mr Casey said he was rapt to be given the opportunity to be involved, taking it on because he felt it was the way life was going to be from now on.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make, because I knew there would be negative feedback,” he said.
“But I had to be considerate of how it would reflect on the town and the community.”
Mr Casey said two statement government employees visited the hotel during the two-week trial to observe how it was running.
They provided Mr Casey with feedback, and vice versa.
Mr Casey, formerly of Mildura and Bendigo, took over the business two months ago as the state went into lockdown.
