Kangaroo Island, Flinders Chase Cafe Devastation

On January 3rd, 2020 a fire tore through the The Flinders Chase National Park destroying all 33,000 hectares and killing most of its animal inhabitants. 

Also destroyed in this fire was the iconic The Chase Cafe in Flinders Chase National Park; a business owned by three generations of Kangaroo Island residents - Joe & Linda Tippett, their children Shea and Brandon, and grandparents  Rod & Joylene Cowin.

The family has owned and operated The Chase Cafe for over 18 years, serving  nearly 3 million tourists during this time. The devastating fire has left the family entirely without any income, during what has traditionally been the their busiest and more lucrative trading period. It has also left their 13 staff, without a job or income - and some homeless.

The Chase Cafe was one of, if not the biggest food provider on Kangaroo Island. And now it's gone. Google updated the cafe's online site to 'PERMANENTLY CLOSED' just 24 hours after the fire, without discussion with the family. While the building, infrastructure, cafe fittings, souvenirs and all stock & supplies disappeared on that horrific day, the spirit of the business lives on in the family and they want to rebuild.


And this is where they need your help...

The Chase Cafe was (is) part of the important tourism eco-system, while not only being the only cafe inside the Flinders Chase National Park, it was one of the main caterers on the island, supplying to nearly 50 tourism companies (including SEALINK, Terra Nova Coach Tours, Expanding Horizons, AmazeTour) who are responsible for bringing thousands of tourists to the island, from Australia and all over the world. 

And while people like Joe Tippett and his family (and others) wait - with rebuilding likely to be two years away, they are forced to draw on credit that is already owed to suppliers and staff.  Joe Tippet and other business owners on the island are experiencing increasing tourism cancellations, as far out as nine months away. 

Kangaroo Island, and the owners of The Chase Cafe, need your help NOW - for the sake of the family and the tourism industry. Joe Tippett's vision is to create a temporary catering business in Kingscote which will supply food &. beverages for the travel companies and tourists before they disappear.

The following is an estimated outline of monies needed in order to bring this to life based on 6 months of capital.

- $700 pw for rental of a commercial kitchen in Kingscote - $18,200
- Extra freezers will be required to store produce - $10,000 
- cold bay units to be located in the buses- $20,000 set up 
- 2 people for new set up - $2,500 per  week for 6 months - $65,000
- Stock - $5,000 per fortnight for 6 months = $60,000
- staff - pay out their entitlements, lost their income $20,000

Total - $188,000

Thank you for joining us in the charge to help the family and staff of The Chase Cafe .Your support and financial donations will be gratefully received during this extremely difficult time.