Licensee Brad Hill at the Caledonian Hotel in Singleton — which is well known for it stance on being pro-choice and accepting patrons who are not vaccinated — vowed to continue welcoming everybody through their doors, vaccinated or not, despite fines and warning from officers about obligations under the Public Health Act.On Tuesday, police again attended the pub and served an additional two $1000 PINs for failure to comply with Covid directions.It came after Mr Hill – who has dubbed freedom day ‘segregation day’ instead — said the pub would continue trading as usual.“We expected it, we’ve had them (police) in here every day hounding us,” he told The Newcastle News.“I half expected to be arrested, but I said whatever you’ve got to do, but we’re not going to change our stance.“I’m here again tomorrow, I’m here again the next day. See what happens.”Mr Hill said the support from people across the country about their pro-choice stance has been “phenomenal” and they’re now as busy as ever taking plenty of bookings and walk-ins for people to come and enjoy a meal at the popular pub.“We’re cracking along again today,” he said.“We’ve had that much support Australia wide, even as far as Tasmania, it’s unbelievable.”“We’ve been out of lockdown three weeks prior (to October 11) before ‘segregation day’ was apon us, so we’ve been operating as usual, always doing take away meals.”He said from the hundreds of thousands showing their support for the pub, there’s only been a few who have been negative about their approach.“If people are happy to sit at home with a mask locked up, it’s up to them, but we’re pro-choice, freedom of choice, freedom of movement, the basic freedoms are taken away,” Mr Hill added.“If anyone can’t see that it’s too late for them.”Police are continuing their inquiries into the breaches at the pub.Meanwhile, a barber shop at Warners Bay has been forced to close after a person at the premises was unable to provide proof of vaccination.Police went to Walkabout Barber Enterprises on Hillsborough Rd on Monday morning after a tip off from a member of the public.A 24-year-old woman was handed a $1000 fine.In a post to their Facebook page, the owner said someone had called CrimeStoppers anonymously and reported the barber shop for being pro-choice and not discriminating.“When we first opened our doors, we made it clear that we would not discriminate against anyone no matter your race, your culture, your sexuality, or your disability, as I myself have dealt with discrimination my entire life,” he said on the post.I never thought I would see the day, when our fellow Australians would be discriminated against for their personal medical choices, or our so called fellow Australians dob each other in, for trying to look after our own.”They were given the options of only serving vaccinated people or closing until December 1 to reopen to everyone, which they decided to close for a further seven weeks.
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