Brendan Simpkins
THE Gawler community rallied around each other during South Australia’s lockdown, with a number of businesses lending a helping hand to those in need.
On Saturday, Cafe Sia at Gawler Green gave out a whopping 70 free meals to those doing it tough, and provided an extra 30 meals to the staff at Gawler Health Service.
Staff at the COVID-19 testing clinic outside the hospital had been inundated with people lining up to get tested, particularly in the early days of lockdown.
Cafe Sia owner Catherine Haidar said the idea came about during a conversation with her husband Gaby, who is also part owner and chef of the restaurant.
“We were having a chat about lockdown and how it sucked and how it affected our family,” she said.
“Then...we were thinking about other people and what they might be going through and they only way we could really think of giving back or helping people was by giving out free food.”
Mrs Haidar likened the thinking behind the move as similar to taking a plate of food to a friend or family member during a mourning period or illness.
The meals were available to be collected from the restaurant for an hour starting from 12.30pm, or if they sold out first.
All of the meals were given out, in accordance with COVIDsafe guidelines.
Mrs Haidar said all the customers were grateful for the move. She said the staff at Gawler Hospital were also appreciative of the gesture.
Meanwhile, Lagers and Barbers on Murray Street, Gawler, also gave out 75 free meals on Friday afternoon.
The barbershop partnered with Norwood’s European Cafe and Grange burger bar Beefcakes & Shakes to provide meals and bottles of water to the less fortunate and those struggling during the lockdown.
Elsewhere, Gawler Flower Gallery teamed up with nearby business Gawler Hot Bread Bakery to deliver a bouquet of flowers with any food bought.
Mrs Haidar said this personified Gawler’s community spirit.
“That’s Gawler, that is Gawler’s value at heart,” she said.
“We try to align ourselves with the family essence and the spirit of helping each other out because Gawler is just a big country town and we all care about each other. It’s not about making millions, it’s about putting our kids through school and the village we are creating to raise our children in.”
Some of Gawler’s cafes remained open during the lockdown, with Delicia and Cibo serving takeaway food and coffee, while Poetic Justice Cafe Gallery provided reheat-able meals and delivery.