Outback watering hole the Yaraka Hotel has made news around the world after announcing emus would no longer be welcome in the bar.
The Yaraka pub is the pride of the central Queensland town of Isisford, around 1,200 kilometres north-west of Brisbane. Population: 20 people and at least two emus.
Kevin and Carol are mates of a feather, and the last locals left from their family. Abandoned emu eggs were found in town and around 18 months ago a local wildlife carer hatched a clutch of eight siblings.
The chicks have grown and mostly gone their own way, or sadly, been hit by cars, but two have stuck around, finding adventure and reward amongst the tourists and pub patrons.
Gerry Gimblett is owner of the Yaraka pub, and sometime unwilling nanny to the birds.
Having recently learned to climb the stairs into the pub, Kevin and Carol are prone to stealing food and car keys, rummage through bins, and worst of all, defecate indiscriminately, which it’s pointed out is from “a considerable height”.
The birds’ bad behaviour has prompted Gimblett to beef up security, installing a rope across the entrance and sign asking patrons to help keep the feathered felons outside.
The strategy has seen Gimblett and the Yaraka Hotel contacted by media as far away as London, news hounds eager to share the solution to a surprisingly popular problem.
But Gimblett isn’t counting his chicks before they catch, citing “strategic plans” to escalate emu engagement if the cunning creatures figure their way around the rope.
Love seeing news from the Yaraka hotel.
If there was a midnight train to Georgia I mean to Yaraka I would be on board.
Would love to meet Carol and Kevin and reunite with Gerry and Chris Gimblett.
Eunice Munn.