Town Crier Making a New Life in Tuatapere
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Southland’s Town Crier Lynley McKerrow is back, and she and her new husband have settled in Tuatapere where they recently opened an ice cream milkshake parlour.
After 23 years in Invercargill, Lynley packed up and moved to the Waikato with Terry Hunt in 2020 – thinking a fresh start in the city where they met nearly 40 years ago would be just what they needed.
Their new adventure was short lived, and after five and a half months they realised they had made a mistake, so they turned around and came back south.
Also a wedding and funeral celebrant who at one time fostered children, Lynley and Terry have big plans for her new community – with their support, and The Well cafe is just the beginning.
Before her move north she had been coming out to Western Southland to preach at the local church – she’s also been to Bible College and has filled many chaplaincy roles over the years.
She received a ‘vision’ for her new cafe in November last year through a dream, and anybody familiar with the Bible will understand that the ‘well’ was a place where people would meet up and chat while getting their water.
Having both worked in hospitality in the past, the new couple have been offering good old fashioned ice creams and milkshakes, as well as quality coffee and homemade cabinet food, and are turning the shop into a real social hub in the town.
And as if she wasn’t busy enough, Lynley also, during the season, picks up trampers from around the region and transports them to Tuatapere to walk the Hump Ridge Track – a perfect way to promote the town and bring more people together.
At 71, Lynley said she couldn’t be happier, and in particular because she has finally married the love of her life.
“We have done this for the community and we want to give the community more than just our presence.”
The two are like chalk and cheese but complement each other perfectly – she is the social one at the front of house, and he’s the academic who loves to cook.
‘The Shed’ next door will eventually (they hope) be turned into a place for youth to hang out and play table tennis. ‘The Cabin’ next to The Well café will become a small meeting place for meetings.
The community has already embraced it. Locals turned up to help them clean the old building. Others offered their services for free to paint and do the carpentry.
From small beginnings big things are on the horizon. By the end of June the business should be entirely self-supporting.
“Lockdown is nearly over so it’s time to wake this town up.” I don’t doubt for a second.