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North Hobart traders rally after stabbing death of local shopkeeper

Saturday, 27 Aug 2016 07:19:33

The Elizabeth Street restaurant strip is popular with locals and tourists. (ABC News: Peter Curtis)

Traders in North Hobart have secured a council grant to set up an interactive website, in efforts to strengthen their lobbying power, after the violent death of a much-loved shopkeeper.

Voula Delios, 68, was stabbed to death in her North Hobart grocery store on a busy Saturday lunchtime in July.

It has been a month since her death and State Cinema owner John Kelly said it was taking the community time to recover from the traumatic event.

North Hobart shopkeeper Voula Delios with son Michael Photo: Voula Delios died after a daylight stabbing her her North Hobart store. (Supplied: The Mercury)

While it had prompted some calls for a permanent police presence in the Elizabeth Street strip, Mr Kelly said traders were opting for an interactive website, to be called We Are North Hobart.

He welcomed the council's decision to provide seed funding.

"Particularly in light of the way a lot of traders are still shaken up and there's a bit of a lack of confidence among some of them," he said.

"They want to assist in our hour of need to make something tangible happen.

"[Hobart City Council] view this as not only good in the short term but good in the long and for other areas as well.

"So it's just that for something so tragic something great should be borne from that."

Website a 'game-changer' for busy traders

Mr Kelly said the website would be a "game-changer" for North Hobart.

"Traders are so busy it is hard to get a collective voice and the website will provide a forum for them and the community as well," Mr Kelly said.

"They will be able to vote online on issues affecting them and the community, because most are too busy to attend meetings.

"I can really see this concept going much beyond North Hobart."

A local website developer has been appointed and it is due to be launched before Christmas.

He said it would help heal the wounds caused by Ms Delios's death.

"It's one of things that will just be there, that dark cloud for a while," he said.

"Time will heal all wounds, of course, but it'll be something that's remembered for generations now and, as I say, it's probably North Hobart's darkest hour."

Ms Delios and her family ran the North Hobart Grocer for more than three decades and the business remains closed.

The man charged with her murder and aggravated armed robbery is due back in court in October.

North Hobart restaurant glasses Photo: The Elizabeth Street restaurant strip is popular with locals and tourists. (ABC News: Peter Curtis)

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