ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Patrons at the Betoota Heights Golf Club were left confused last night after a bloke managed to enter Ming Overell’s Chinese Bistro barefoot, sporting what locals colloquially refer to as “Tasmanian school shoes.”
Johnno McGregor, a regular at the bistro, was particularly baffled by the sight.
“Mate, I’ve seen some things in my time, but a bloke strolling into the club wearing a pair Tasmanian school shoes? That’s a new one,” McGregor said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“How’d he get past Joan at the front desk?”
The barefoot mystery man, identified only as “Kurt,” seemed unfazed by the attention his unconventional footwear, or lack thereof, garnered.
“It’s a free country, isn’t it?” Kurt was heard saying as he enjoyed his sweet and sour pork, seemingly oblivious to the stares and whispers.
Ming Overell’s Chinese Bistro, known for its strict dress code and upscale dining experience, typically enforces a strict “no shoes, no service” policy.
Yet, Kurt’s bare feet managed to slip through the cracks, much to the bemusement of other diners.
Ming Overell, the matriarch of the bistro and mother of Betoota Advocate editor Clancy Overell, hails from China and defected from the CCP in 1952. Known for her no-nonsense approach and delicious cuisine, she was seen shaking her head in disbelief but ultimately allowing Kurt to stay because he was paying cash.
“I’ve got a mate who got turned away for wearing thongs, and here’s Kurt, just wandering around barefoot like it’s Broadbeach,” McGregor continued, still visibly puzzled.
The incident has sparked a lively debate among the club’s regulars about dress codes and the enforcement thereof.
“If you can get in here without shoes, what’s next? Am I going to have to eat my dinner looking at another man’s naked nipple?” quipped another diner.
As the night went on, Kurt enjoyed his meal and a few rounds at the bar, leaving patrons to ponder the mysteries of club policy and the audacity of the Tasmanian school shoes.
For now, the Betoota Heights Golf Club remains divided on whether Kurt’s barefoot escapade was a charming display of Queensland nonchalance or a breach of decorum that needs addressing.
More to come.
