100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Sami Muirhead is impressed with a local cafe serving a shot of kindness during COVID

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Ashley Robinson: it’s a new year, so keep smiling

What things I would like to change about myself and others in 2026 is probably a good place to start for the early part More

Sami Muirhead: another great holiday stitch-up

They say lightning cannot strike twice. Well, I just returned from a very embarrassing stint in Fiji where I copped a bunch of stitches More

Ashley Robinson: a brush with danger

I hope you had a nice New Year’s Eve and made a great start to ’26 which will set you up for plenty of More

Sami Muirhead: Let’s reverse the road rage trend

’Tis the season for road rage!  I was in my car at the shopping centre, reversing back and forth and trying to park between More

Ashley Robinson: Good memories help goodbyes

December is a significant month when you have a birthday and Christmas all within a few weeks. Then add work break-ups and kids on More

Jane Stephens: dangerous drivel

No, there are no Queensland Transport plans to fine you $1500 for sucking on a water bottle or chomping on hot chips while behind More

COVID brings more than sickness. How many friends do you know who are simply tired from nearly two years of worry and trying to guess what the pandemic will bring next?

We have all been robbed of memories. I am still sad, as I missed so many ‘firsts’ for my son when he started Prep last year. My dad’s funeral was limited to a handful of guests due to strict regulations. This was hard. To love each other is what makes us human and these memories of interactions with friends and family are what fuel us and give us purpose.

It is time to make memories again. I was deeply impressed with a Facebook post I read from the most enchanting cafe in the main street of Maleny, called Shotgun Espresso, discussing the “tricky and sticky times” we are all going through in relation to health directives from the government concerning being double vaccinated.

The owners of Shotgun Expresso wrote: “Last year we had the opportunity to take a lease next to our little cafe and expand. Knowing the world had changed and we had to bear this in mind moving forward, we created ‘Little Shotgun’ in the original venue and Shotgun on the new side. We set ourselves up to move with expected lockdowns to be able to switch to takeaway more easily and to run as two separate businesses if needed.”

Stay up-to-date by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article 

Genius thinking, people! The owners continue:  “…those who wish to show us their certificate are able to enter the store and take a seat in the Shotgun side and directly out the front. Those who do not wish to show us a certificate can purchase takeaways at the door from the ‘Little Shotgun’ side without entering and can be seated directly out the front on this side.”

Already impressed, it is the next part I love best and acts as a reminder to us all to be kind and patient to each other during this mess. “ANYONE choosing to be our guest going forward must first agree to something far more important first: To be kind to each other. Be kind to our very hard-working staff. This is next-level stuff, and we are already tired from the last two years. No one is forcing people to enter our store, so if the above requests can’t be met, please don’t enter.”

We should not be divided on this issue. My sort of cafe is just this one: soul-starting coffee, lime and lemongrass cake that will make you cry with happiness, served with a huge slab of cream and kindness on the side.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share