The family behind Lismore's famous pie cart has run out of steam after suffering a traumatic experience during the February floods and running on adrenalin ever since.
Pies were being baked three days after the February 28 flood and the cart, which is parked on a prominent corner of the CBD, was one of the first food outlets back in action.
The family behind this iconic business, Col and Kim Baker, and Sharon and Brett Restall, also own a butchery and pie outlet in Dalley Street.
But six months after the flood disaster, fatigue is starting to set in and the family is wishing to take a back seat.
"To put it simply, it has worn me out," Sharon Restall said.
"For all of us around time COVID started we started thinking it might be time to pass this onto someone with a bit more passion.
"The last couple of years with COVID has been pretty shit and then this flood knocked the wind out of all of us.
"My children and I were rescued in a boat and less than 24 hours later I was back at work."
In those dire days following the February 28 flood, Sharon and her family felt a real responsibility to keep making pies because there really was no other food outlets open.
"We worked seven days a week, 10 hours a day for six weeks and then that was the time of the second flood and as as soon as the power was back on down town, we went straight back into it," she said.
"The crux of it is that I have three young kids who need me to have more energy and interest in life. I have just lost my passion."
Ms Restall agrees that much of the town is effectively in limbo awaiting the findings of the independent flood inquiry which has yet to be made public.
"Everyone is waiting for the report and about buy backs. That is good in some ways and negative in some ways," she said.
"People want to move on and make their own decisions about what they want to do.
"It has taken so long, just for mental health reasons sitting in limbo is not great."
Ms Restall said they would have a handover with the successful buyer of the pie cart.
"When I bought it I had no experience making pies just business management experience," she said.
"We have a very specialised way of making pies, it is not like the pies made in bakeries, everything is put together by hand.
"This is a very special business and I feel like I owe it to the town to find someone to do it justice."
The pie cart and other outlet in Dalley Street is up for sale.
It was established in 1947 and is one of Lismore's most iconic businesses.
It is for sale through Pidcock Commercial Real Estate.
This is a very special business and I feel like I owe it to the town to find someone to do it justice
- Sharon Restall
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
I'm a media professional with over 34 years of experience in public relations and journalism, including a decade setting Lismore's news agenda as the editor of The Northern Star. I have proven track record in growing audiences and improving engagement by delivering quality local stories for and about the Lismore community.
