The opportunity has been presented by current owner and former opponent on the football field, Peter Warburton.
‘‘I’ve known Pete Warburton the owner, for quite a few years now,’’ Mr Deledio said.
‘‘We used to play footy against each other.’’
The collaboration proved too good an opportunity for Mr Deledio to pass up.
‘‘He was looking for someone to help manage the place and I was looking for a new challenge so that’s how it came together,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s going to be a challenge but it’ll be a good challenge and I’m looking forward to it.’’
While fresh to the hospitality management scene, Deledio is certainly no stranger to administration and secretarial roles.
‘‘I’ve been president of the Kyabram Football Club for a couple of years as well as doing some work behind the scenes for some other footy clubs,’’ he said.
‘‘I have some experience in similar roles but I’ve never managed a pub before, although I used to work in a pub when I was young.’’
Established in 1899, the pub has seen its ups and downs, being moments away from closing down for good to receiving fresh renovations just months later, and Deledio says customers have been full of praise for the recent work.
‘‘The updates from last year have been really popular and we’ve also recently turned the old drive-through bottle shop in a function space, people are loving that,’’ he said.
The function space opened just six weeks ago and is available to all guests. It can be hired free of charge.
‘‘We’d like to run the function centre most weekends for Friday and Saturday night. Weddings, 21sts, 50ths, 60ths, that’s our goal and I think the fact that it is free to hire is really appealing.’’
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