Two chefs from Nepal answered the prayers of a NSW business that was struggling to find workers.
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Now they're trapped far from home, with no safety net.
Binod Magar and Mahesh Chand have worked at the Friendly Inn in NSW's Kangaroo Valley, south of Wollongong, for the past seven months on skilled migrant visas.
Manager Sam Rodden said the business had a years-long struggle to find chefs willing to travel over the mountain for work.
"There isn't much rental accommodation in the valley either," Mr Rodden said.
"A friend of us connected us with Binod and Mahesh via a visa agency and they're such good workers, their food is unreal."
Nepal has closed its borders due to the crisis, leaving Mr Magar and Mr Chand with no work, and no way home. Their families at home are in lockdown, and now also without an income.
"It's really difficult when our children call and ask when we are coming home," Mr Magar said.
"We are worried for them. We hope everyone supports the lockdown so the pandemic can end."
The Friendly Inn staff have clubbed together some cash to help the men out. A caravan and Winnebago have been donated so they have somewhere to stay, and a local farm is providing them with fresh produce.
"It's been a terrible time for them," Mr Rodden said.
"They've been here through the fires and now they're stuck with no income and nothing to do. They have been such a good part of our business and out team, there's no way we could leave them to fend for themselves.
"Kangaroo Valley is really close-knit. But there are thousands of people in Australia in their position, many of them in Sydney without the community support."
Mr Magar and Mr Chand said they were grateful for the help they had received.
"We have been welcomed, and people have been friendly," Mr Chand said.
"It's a great opportunity to expand our skills and provide for my family at home. We were a bit scared during the fires and now during COVID-19, but these things are no-one's fault.
"Through these adversities the Kangaroo Valley community has helped us to survive."
Their greatest hope now is for lockdown restrictions to be eased so they can go back to work, or for the borders to reopen so they can return home to their families until the business reopens.
If you would like to help support the men and staff from the Friendly Inn try this gofundme page.
