Add Category
It's a remote pub off the highway in north Queensland and, unusually, the owners of Oasis Exchange Hotel in Torrens Creek are fielding non-stop calls from people across Australia.
The attention comes after publican Priscilla Meli posted on social media about "pay it forward" meal donations for truck drivers.
"Within 24 hours … we were getting calls from people in New South Wales, Adelaide, Perth, Victoria, just everywhere, wanting to help," Ms Meli said.
"It's really heartwarming."
The roadhouse is a popular rest stop for truckies, many of whom look forward to free showers and a hearty meal to revive them on long drives.
The pub relies on truck drivers just as much as they rely on the pub.
"When the tourists aren't in, it's the truckies that keep our doors open throughout the year," Ms Meli said.
Less than a week after the Facebook post, there has been an outpouring of support from around the country.
The pub's docket board is now full of receipts from people who have called to pay for a meal.
"Some ex-truckies, some from a family background of truck drivers, pensioners – that always pulls at my heartstrings," Ms Meli said.
"Just a lot of real, everyday Aussie battlers, wanting to call up and lend a hand."
Donations nationwide
Thousands of kilometres away in the Victorian town of Moe, Rosemary Larkins-Westbury donated $200 after seeing the social media post.
"I don't think she [Ms Meli] realised I was fair dinkum to start off with," Ms Larkins-Westbury said.
"She was a little bit flabbergasted."
Ms Larkins-Westbury said she often "paid it forward" in Melbourne coffee shops, but a deep connection with truckies prompted her to call the outback Queensland pub.
"I sort of grew up around truckies," she said.
"If it wasn't for truckies … the whole nation wouldn't work."
The donation was able to buy five steak sandwiches and four hamburgers — meals worth more than their dollar value for a weary driver.
"They need all the help they can get when they're down on their luck," Ms Larkins-Westbury said.
Truck drivers 'keep the nation running'
While the cost-of-living crisis has been felt everywhere, the owners of the hotel have been overwhelmed by people's generosity.
"Everyone I've spoken to actually couldn't be more grateful and thankful and really acknowledged that they [truck drivers] do keep our nation running," Ms Meli said.
She said the post was inspired by the kindness of a truck driver who fixed up an airbag for a stranded traveller and refused payment.
"We just got chatting about how things are in general — electricity prices, young families, fuel — and how small towns like us rely on drivers to get stock and produce," Ms Meli said.
The Queensland Trucking Association's chief executive Gary Mahon said regional towns were "highly reliant" on road freight.
"What a lot of people don't necessarily stop to think about is that Queensland's the most decentralised state in Australia," he said.
"Less than 20 per cent of our communities are connected to rail in some way.
"In the end, road freight is the transport mode that connects our communities."
The challenges of isolation were highlighted in Queensland's recent weather events that saw roads flooded and towns cut off.
Last week, a truck drove all the way from Townsville to Birdsville in a race against the clock to deliver supplies to the remote town before floodwaters arrived.
The rail corridor from Cloncurry to Nelia, east of Julia Creek, has been closed for nearly a month after heavy rain from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily caused localised washout and scouring.
While Queensland Rail works on repairs, truck drivers have stepped in to make sure surrounding communities still receive goods.
"It's not necessarily unusual," said Mr Mahon.
"Road freight will always be the first to move because there are occasions where rail lines have been cut for … significant periods of time."
Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Tuesday