Woolies donates meat to stranded McKinlay residents

With the roads cut due to flooding from significant rainfall in North Queensland, Woolworths made the decision to give away the contents of an isolated truck to local residents. 

Woolies said they gave away between five and 10 pallets of meat because it “saves the meat going off”.

Locals and motorists enjoyed a free barbecue at the Walkabout Creek Hotel on Friday evening.

Hotel owner Frank Wust said despite being cut off in all directions, the spirit of stranded travellers was pretty high.

“Everyone is in good spirits and using the pub as a hub,” he said.

“We have tripled our population with an extra 40 people in town, because the roads are cut in all directions due to receiving 288.5 millimetres in the last week. We have already beaten last year’s annual total of 240mm.”

At this stage the Landsborough Highway between McKinlay and Cloncurry is still closed.

“The highway has been closed for the last four days. The McKinlay River came down to 300 (millimetres) last night but there were still a number of crossings cutting the highway,” Mr Wust said.

“This morning the McKinlay River is now one meter over. We just have to wait until the rain stops.”

After losing the kitchen at the local fuel station when it became automated, The Walkabout Creek Hotel is the only restaurant servicing McKinlay.

“Thankfully Woolies shared produce from one of their stranded trucks here in McKinlay,” Mr Wust said.

“We offered our barbecue for residents to cook meat and we supplied veggies. We always plan for roads to be cut this time of year so we always stock up on food and supplies.

“At the moment we only have so much supplies that will probably only cater for the next few days.”

READ MORE:  Foodworks charters in supplies for cut off Cloncurry residents.

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