A Vintage High Tea event in Wollongong is powering ahead with its plans for this Saturday, despite government restrictions on events with 100 people, and "social distancing" advice to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
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The high tea is organised by an outfit called Girls Big Day Out, which had told stallholders there would be 120 guests there.
With COVID-19 now taking hold, one stallholder who didn't want to take part for safety reasons was told she couldn't get a refund because the ticket and stall money "had been spent in advance" on suppliers.
The Wollongong mum contacted the Mercury, concerned holding the event was irresponsible. When booking, she'd been told there would be 120 guests, plus stallholders, plus Sage staff.
On Friday Girls Big Day Out organiser Darlene Maher said the event would be going ahead - but with a reduced number of people.
She said had earlier brought numbers down to 80, but with several ticketholders deciding not to go, there would be 55 guests.
"We have 55 guests in a huge ballroom at the Sage," she said.
"Those who don't want to attend have been given refunds."
Ms Maher said stallholders had been offered a place at a future event, but she would now agree to refund any stallholder who opts out of Saturday.
"Some of our guests are nurses working in the COVID-19 clinics and I've been working with them behind the scenes," she said.
"All the tables are spaced apart as per the recommendations. Every guests is spaced apart from each other.
"We have all the hygiene protocols in place, sanitiser and so on."
Tongs would be available on the tables "to select your high tea delicacies" while gloves would also be on hand for those who want them.
The Sage hotel chain sent a statement from a public relations spokeswoman.
"We have put in place enhanced precautionary measures and stepped up our cleaning protocols in our hotel, in accordance to guidelines provided by the local health authorities," it said.
"We have communicated information on Covid-19 to our guests and event organisers so that they are aware of these guidelines set out by the local health authorities.
"We are also working with event organisers to ensure that their events meet these guidelines which include social distancing and limiting the number of guests to below 100.
"We remain vigilant and take guidance from the local health authorities so that we can ensure that our guests continue to have a safe and pleasant visit to our hotel."
Ben Langford
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
