THE Caledonian Hotel - The Cali, to the locals - is a Singleton landmark that dates its trading history to 1841. A typical country pub, with a reputation for good food.
Since August, though, when it hung a COVID protest banner from its first-floor balcony, it's gained a new level of prominence.
That poster, since joined by others, reads: "Jab or no jab. All welcome at the Cali. Free Australia."
The coronavirus battle continues on the pub's Facebook page, where messages supporting its libertarian stance jostle with those who see it - in the words of one critic - "as a great place to catch COVID".
Not surprisingly - given the "jab or no jab, all welcome" sign flies in the face of NSW government roadmap rules requiring patrons of licensed premises to be vaccinated - the Caledonian has found itself at the centre of attention by NSW Police.
The pub's connections may believe they are standing up against "discrimination" and "segregation".
But to Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, the Caledonian is the scene of "repeated and continued breaches" of public health orders.
As a result, the hotel has copped a series of fines.
It's been ordered shut by the police.
And now the publican is charged with failing to comply with COVID directions, and faces Singleton Local Court on December 2.
Vaccine critics are entitled to their views.
But COVID vaccination is a classic example of society's occasional need to inconvenience the few to protect the many.
There is no use wishing things were otherwise.
Regardless of its origins, the virus has killed almost five million people - and made many more seriously ill - with no end in sight.
And no, the vaccines are not perfect, but they are the best protection we have against a virus that has grew stronger with Delta and may again mutate to our greater danger.
This is indisputable.
As a result, most Australians have put aside any personal doubts or preferences and taken part in the vaccination drive.
The jab is not universally mandated and presumably never will be.
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But NSW - like many other jurisdictions - encourages vaccination by bestowing freedoms on the majority, which are not available to the unvaccinated minority.
Ignoring these policies, as the Caledonian is effectively doing, is not only unlawful, it is dangerous.
Especially so, as the virus embeds in the Hunter, and the deaths by COVID begin.
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