Updated: Dec 8, 2019
Since the 1800s, publicans have been known as pillars of the community ready to lend a hand, and an ear, to the local communities they serve.
Over the years, when it comes to design, style, and what's on offer, pubs have certainly grown a lot. But there is also one thing that has stayed exactly the same, and that is the relationships they have with their local communities.
Over the past year, Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Newcastle Hunter and their members together have provided in excess of $1 million to community groups, sporting teams and individuals in need.
As an organisation, AHA Newcastle Hunter provided more than $150,000 in sponsorship and support to groups and events including Variety - the Children's Charity, Mark Hughes Foundation, Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), Rural Aid, Surfest, Hunter Children's Research Foundation (HCRF), and the Kurri Coalface Pedal in association with Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
In the past year, AHA Newcastle Hunter and their members together provided in excess of $1 million to community groups, sporting teams and individuals in need...
Individual member venues across Newcastle and the Hunter each dug deep providing a combined $968,000 to organisations and individuals.
Hunt Hospitality, local operators of the Duke of Wellington Hotel at Lambton, the Kent Hotel at Hamilton, Lakeside Village Tavern, Raymond Terrace and the Seabreeze Hotel, Nelson Bay provided an incredible $330,881 to community groups, events and individuals including 24 sporting teams, Variety - the Children's Charity, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and Soul Cafe.
"To be a publican should be, and always has carried, a responsibility to the community," Hunt Hospitality managing director Stephen Hunt said.
"You employee the community, you serve the community, and local suppliers count on you to put food on the table of their families. As the role of the publican evolves over time, we still instill in our people these same community values."
While it would be impossible to list every venue's contribution across the region, AHA venues played a massive role in supporting their communities from Shoal Bay Country Club in Port Stephens, which provided more than $56,000 to sporting teams, the Yacaaba Community Centre and youth organisation Jupiter - to the Horse and Jockey Hotel at Singleton which offered in excess of $42,000 to sporting teams, the local Men's Shed and children's organisation Heart Kids.
