Drought funds destined for destitute farmers and a lifesaving rescue helicopter service that services the bush were among the victims of a pub robbery at Urbenville last week, along with grog and the public bar’s jukebox – all totaling $6000.
Unfortunately Crown Hotel publicans Sylivia Margan and Darryl Mageean are uninsured.
“We only ever had one robbery in our nine years in Urbenville and that was out the back never in the bar.” Ms Margan said. “I guess we were a bit lax.”
In fact, Urbenville’s Crown Hotel is a relaxing place to be, an attitude much admired by its guests.
Friday nights are a cracker – just ask the Angus breeder who goes by the nickname of “Juicy”. So, it’s a bit tragic that some small town innocence has been lost.
Urbenville is a close community, so it comes as no surprise that a local named the offenders, aged in their early 20s – but more like uninitiated boys. Police are investigating.
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If there was a queer side to this incident the items left behind were telling, with valuable lap top computers ignored in favour of the jukebox. But their motive was clear, considering pins were removed from shutters on the inside – probably during trading hours
“Most galling of all were the cans of stolen donations left on the bar,” said Mr Mageean.
Meanwhile, the main driver of drought relief charity at the Crown is their home-made chicken parma, newly available in six popular flavours, of which 10 per cent goes to Rural Aid’s Buy A Bale program.
The August campaign “Parma for a Farma” is being promoted by numerous pubs, all keen to share proceeds of their profit from a plate of batter coated chook breast topped in tasty sauce.
While Mexican is by far the most popular Parma topping at the Crown, a group of hardy French backpackers employed to pick blueberries near Tabulam dared to be different . Last weekend they ordered the “Pommy” Parma, which is slathered in mashed potato, gravy and cheese.
“I guess they were into trying new things,” said Ms Margan.
