Little Red Duck Café - New Start for Noojee Café & Post Office

Troy, Crystal, Oliver and Michael The verandah

New start for Noojee café & Post office

NOOJEE’S POPULAR LITTLE RED DUCK CAFÉ IS NOW OPERATING UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AFTER BEING SOLD TO A LOCAL FAMILY. THE PROUD NEW OWNERS ARE CRYSTAL PETSCHACK, HER PARTNER TROY WAWRZIK AND HIS FATHER MICHAEL.

Words & Photos By Wendy Morriss

The contemporary café still with the same friendly, country atmosphere is close to the beautiful Latrobe River and not far from the iconic Trestle Bridge, Toorongo Falls and Mt Baw Baw snow fields.

While the business has since been hit with lockdowns, Covid, a town flood, an earthquake and wild winds, it has survived the onslaught and re-emerged with a fabulous menu and lovely outdoor garden spaces ready for spring/summer dining, including an attractive fenced area that is safe for children.

Patrons are served breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. They are offered perfectly brewed, locally roasted Silva coffee, quality teas, light meals and a variety of house-made cakes. Everything is made in-house from scratch including their popular homemade quiches, and their delicious gourmet pies and sausage rolls with many of the ingredients being locally sourced.

The café is licenced and open every day from 8 am. The wonderful food is served both inside the café, outside in the gardens and under the verandah. A full take away menu is available as well. A range of local gourmet products are offered, and store items for locals and campers, including firewood and ice. On cold days, the café is heated by two wood fires. Fresh organic flowers placed around the venue are supplied by local flower grower Heather Gillespie and an exhibition of local art adorns the walls.

Troy believes the café is well positioned because, he said, almost everyone comes to Noojee – cyclists, four-wheel drivers, walkers, bushmen, fishermen, skate boarders that go to the mountain, motor bike riders and others following various outdoor pursuits.

“There are still some though that think because Noojee is in the bush, it’s a long way away, but we still have TV reception,” he said, smiling, “and we are just up the road.” Noojee is only 30 minutes from Warragul and Drouin and 1.5 hours from Melbourne.

Prior to becoming the Little Red Duck Café, the business was known as The Red Parrot Café owned and operated by Narelle Telford and Brian Kennon, where for eight years, Crystal worked part time while attending secondary college and then university.

“I worked every weekend and sometimes after school,” she said. “My first task was sweeping and mopping the floors and then over the years, I worked out how to do everything from making coffee to cooking meals.”

After finishing her degree, Crystal moved out of the area and worked in a restaurant before coming back to work for the previous owners, Simon and Rosie Duck, initially in their Willow Grove business, then in the café and later becoming manager.

Troy has worked a few shifts in the café, but has generally been the popular front of house face and manager of Noojee Hotel for six years. Michael has spent 35 years working in the dairy manufacturing industry, generally in production management positions.

Crystal said Michael does a lot of behind the scenes legal work and paper work while she and Troy deal with the physical day to day business including managing staff and supplies. “Between us, we have diverse skills so I think we make a great team.”

The family have also taken over the Noojee Post Office enabling the previous owners to finally take a well-earned retirement. Narelle and Brian took over the post office more than 10 years ago and have since provided several community services through the town’s essential base.

The town’s new postmaster is Crystal, who has undertaken some extensive training with Australia Post in Warragul, Melbourne and Noojee. She will be supported in the post office by Troy and Michael.

When asked how it felt to now be in business she said it feels amazing. “It proves that hard work and dedication pays off. It’s what has got us to this point, which is where I’ve always wanted to be.”

The couple, who are also parents of three-year-old Oliver, and Michael, his grandfather said they are all really happy. They’ve always wanted to be business owners and this is their first step.

Little Red Duck Café Address: 1 Bennett St, Noojee VIC 3833 Phone: (03) 5628 9613

Crystal and Troy in the Noojee Post Office