David Strange is calling stumps on his near 20-year tenure as owner of the iconic Metung Hotel.
After almost two decades in charge of the popular lakeside, working tirelessly for seven days a week, 365 days of the year, Mr Strange is excited to dedicate more time to himself and his family.
“I’ve just got tired. Running a pub is a 14-hour day, seven day a week job,” he said.
“I’ve realised my kids don’t want to come into the business and I want to go and do some different things.
“It hasn’t been easy, I’ve very much had mixed emotions. I know the toll it takes on me mentally and the strain of 24/7. There’s no doubt the bushfires and COVID really had the pressure on. It was bloody hard.
“The pub is a strong business, it does very well. The pub is the centre of town, it’s a place you can go for refuge. Pubs are much more than selling beer and food.”
Mr Strange explained he’s not getting any younger and would like to get away and do some different things – get back out on the water, sailing being a passion of his, as well as finding time for more travel, with the first stop being Europe this September.
“My life will stay in Metung. I’m third generation myself and my children are fourth generation living in Metung so we certainly won’t be lost to the area, I’ll come down and be a customer here I guess.
“I’ve grown up coming down here ever since I was a little boy with mum and dad, it’s just what I’m used to.
“I’m heavily into my boating and the Gippsland Lakes is the best boating in Australia, I reckon – safe waterways, the kids can go sailing, there is always somewhere to get out of the weather, it’s quite a unique place.”
David’s grandfather had always hoped of buying the Metung Pub, however the opportunity never arose. The owners of the pub at the time (longest standing owners – Ray Dunn and Lorraine Sexton, 52 years) didn’t want to sell, so that always held some of the appeal for Mr Strange. He eventually purchased the pub from John Ribbands in 2005 – the only other Metung Pub owner who is still alive.
“The timing was lucky. I sold my pharmaceuticals business in Melbourne and I had a little bit of spare money and the pub came up for sale. I didn’t have anything to do and thought I better get back to work,” he said.
“I’d never run a pub of course, so I bought it and the rest is history.”
Mr Strange has created his own history and it’s the friendships with staff and patrons which he will forever hold onto.
“I’m going to miss the people, I think the people who have worked with me. I have a good working relationship I believe, they might tell you something different, but I’ll miss them, they have been very loyal to me and are responsible for the success of the business as much as I am,” he said.
“I’ll miss some of the customers. Well I guess I won’t miss them because I’ll get to come back and have a beer with them myself.
“There would’ve been hundreds of thousands of people through this pub over the years, they come from all walks of life, all financial backgrounds.
“I try to understand my customer, we’re trying to be something for everybody and from the guy who can only afford a beer and a burger or the wealthy man who wants Penfolds Grange. I try really hard to be available to everyone and I think that’s the lovely thing about the pub is you can be well off or be down on your luck but everyone is treated equal.”
Now Mr Strange won’t be a stranger to his cherished pub. You may see him sitting next to the bar with a cold Carlton Draught “in a freezing cold pot glass, no handle” or later in the evening a “Mount Gay Rum and Coke with lots of ice and a little slug of lime or lemon”.
IMAGE: The iconic Metung Hotel has long been a favourite for locals and visitors, with many famous faces, including AFL footballers and prime ministers, enjoying a drink and a meal over many years. (PS)
