The owners of the Curlwaa Caravan Park did not think they were being controversial when they announced that they would soon only accept customers fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Key points:
- The Curlwaa Caravan Park announced on Facebook that it would only accept people fully vaccinated against COVID-19
- The owner's father lives on the park site and is at increased risk of serious illness from the virus.
- Comments on social media about the park's vaccine policy have been fierce
Ric Young owns the trailer park, which is located on the banks of the Murray River, and said his decision to request vaccinations for visitors was based on safety.
He was concerned not only for the often elderly patrons who visited the park, but also for his father Brian.
Brian, 78, lives in a cabin in the park and said he "has trouble breathing at best" due to chronic lung disease.
"If I had COVID, that would be the end," Brian said.
But when the park announced its intention to enforce mandatory vaccination on Facebook, the response was surprising.
โPeople threaten to sue us, saying they are going to boycott us, telling their friends not to come here.
"We were expecting some negative comments, but to the extent that it was, and still is, it's phenomenal.
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The comments called the policy "illegal" and "discriminatory" amid angry abuse.
"My wife and I were sitting there and we were really stunned. Quite shocked.
Not so controversial
The Caravan Park ad was in line with New South Wales roadmap outside the confinement.
Domestic travel would be allowed for fully vaccinated people in NSW, once 70 percent of people over the age of 16 have received both injections.
But Caravan Park announced its intentions early, and while Young said he expected some criticism for the post, the scope of the backlash was daunting.
ABC News: Richard Crabtree
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Don't back down
Despite the protests, Young and his wife Margot decided not to remove the post from Facebook.
Young said it appeared to be a small but vocal minority leading the abuse, and the support they received in private was a sufficient guarantee that they were making the right decision.
ABC News: Emmie Dowling
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"I wondered if we should quit, but my wife said, 'Why are we giving in?' This is our business and these are our beliefs, "he said.
"I printed it, I proudly have a copy on my desk. We read it and thought, it's worth it."
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