21/10/2026
Hello, our awesome community !
First of all, I want to say thank you. I know how lucky I’ve been to spend the last 34 years as publican of The Star Hotel Milton.
Thirty-four years is a long time in anyone’s life. When I look back, I realise the Pub has been so much more than just a place to have a drink. It’s been a meeting place, a gathering place, a place to celebrate, a place to lend a hand, and sometimes, a place to find comfort when life hasn’t gone to plan.
In a small community, the local pub is often at the heart of everything, and I’ve been privileged to be part of that for so many years.
To our customers — thank you. Thank you for your loyalty, your friendship, your support, and for walking through these doors year after year. Some of you have been here from the very beginning, and others have joined us along the way. You’ve shared your stories, your laughter, your good times and your tough times with us. You’ve made this Pub what it is, and I couldn’t have done it without you.
Of course, being a Publican means you get to know people pretty well over the years. You see them come in as young people and watch them grow up, raise families, and bring the next generation through the doors. You learn who likes their drink a certain way, who always sits in the same spot, and who can never be convinced it’s time to go home!
There have been plenty of laughs, plenty of stories, and I’m sure a few things that are best left unmentioned !
To all the staff who have worked here over the years — thank you. So many people have been part of this pub’s story, and I’m grateful to every one of you. Running a Pub is never a one-person job. It takes hard work, long hours, patience, teamwork and a good sense of humour. You’ve helped keep things going through the busy nights, the big events and all the ordinary days in between. I appreciate every one of you and everything you’ve contributed.
To my family — thank you from the bottom of my heart. Being a Publican isn’t just a job; it’s a way of life. The hours are long, weekends are often workdays, and family occasions sometimes have to fit around the Pub.
Your patience, understanding and support over all these years have meant more than I can say. There have been sacrifices along the way, and I know I haven’t always been as available as I would have liked. Thank you for standing beside me and helping make these 34 years possible.
Over the years, the Pub has been proud to support so many sporting groups and local organisations. Whether it was sponsoring a team, helping raise funds, hosting a get-together or simply being there when support was needed, we’ve always understood how important our sporting clubs & organisations are to a small community. They bring people together, give young people opportunities and create friendships that last a lifetime. I’m proud that the Star has played a small part in that.
And then there’s the music! We’ve had plenty of live music over the years, with talented musicians filling the Pub with songs, dancing and good times. There’s nothing quite like a room full of people enjoying themselves, singing along and forgetting about their worries for a while. Some nights, getting everyone to leave at the end was probably the hardest part of the job!
But perhaps what makes me proudest is the number of life events we’ve shared within these walls.
We’ve celebrated birthdays, christenings, engagements, weddings & much more. We’ve gathered for anniversaries and special milestones. We’ve also come together for wakes and celebrations of life, when people needed somewhere familiar to remember someone they loved, share stories and support one another.
That’s the thing about a local Pub. It’s there for the happy occasions, but it’s also there for the difficult ones. It becomes part of people’s lives, and over 34 years, I’ve come to realise just how many memories have been made at The Star.
And it hasn’t all been smooth sailing!
We’ve seen fires, floods & much more, and we’ve faced our fair share of challenges. There have been times when things looked pretty grim and we wondered what might happen next. But each time, the community showed its strength. People came together, lent a hand, offered support and helped us get back on our feet.
That’s what a community does. When times are tough, people look after each other. I’ve seen that spirit time and time again, and it’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
After 34 years, it’s time for me to step aside and begin a new chapter. That’s not necessarily an easy thing to do. When you’ve spent so much of your life in one place, surrounded by familiar faces and familiar routines, it becomes a very big part of who you are.
There will be things I miss — the conversations, the laughs, the music, the familiar faces coming through the door, and being part of the everyday life of this community.
But I also leave with a heart full of memories, a great deal of pride, and an enormous amount of gratitude.
I’d also like to warmly welcome the new owners, Paul & Vicky Kapetanos.
I wish you every success as you take on the Pub and begin your own chapter in its history. You’re taking on more than a building and a business. You’re becoming part of a community, with a long history, strong friendships and plenty of stories attached to the Pub walls.
I hope the community gives you the same support, encouragement and friendship that it has given me over the past 34 years. Look after the pub, look after the people who walk through the doors, and I’m sure you’ll make many wonderful memories of your own.
I hope everyone will give them a warm welcome and support them as they find their feet and make the pub their own.
Finally, to everyone who has been part of this journey — customers, staff, sporting clubs, musicians, friends, family and the wider community — thank you.
Thank you for the friendships, the loyalty, the laughs, the kindness and the memories. Thank you for being part of my life for the past 34 years. It has been a privilege to serve you, and I will always look back on this time with great affection.
I may be handing over the keys, but I’ll never forget the people who made The Star what it is.
So, rather than saying goodbye, I’ll simply say thank you. Thank you for 34 wonderful years.
So next time you call in to The Star, I think it’s only fitting that you raise a glass — to the past, to the people who made it special, and to the future of this great local pub.
Cheers, everyone, and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
