Kiosk managers hit the ground running

TREVOR and Gabriela Messenger have hit the ground running since taking over the government lease at the Wellington Dam kiosk a little over a month ago.

It has certainly been a leap of faith for the couple – originally hailing from Scotland and Germany, respectively –who made the move from Edinburgh to take over management of both the kiosk and Potters Gorge campground.

Mr Messenger has previously lived and worked in Australia, however, neither of the couple were previously familiar with the Collie area.

“We wanted to live in the countryside,” Mrs Messenger said. “We were looking for different opportunities and we just stumbled by chance on this business.”

Mr Messenger said the couple has been hard at work, both making their mark on the kiosk and undertaking renovations at the accompanying three-bedroom house.

They have been running the business on their own but are looking for staff to help out, particularly during busy weekend and holiday periods.

Mr and Mrs Messenger are in the process of reworking the menu, while a new coffee machine occupies pride of place in the kiosk and has already received plenty of positive customer feedback.

Mr Messenger said they plan to feature more retail items and local art in the kiosk, while monthly pop-up markets and dinners-under-the-stars are also potentially on the agenda for the future.

“This lends itself to eating out,” he said of the potential for night dining. “You look up and you can see the Milky Way. It's awesome.”

Traffic stopper

TRAFFIC was brought to a standstill when two low loaders carrying earth moving equipment headed for the Collie coalfields passed through town last week.

The low loaders had to straddle the Throssell Street median strip, meaning westbound traffic was stopped, while eastbound traffic made slow progress behind the vehicles through the town centre.