Café owners struggle with visa application

By Samantha Elley

Since opening six months ago, Heike’s Café in Coraki has become a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike.

However, a missing visa application and a few bungles along the way mean that Reto and Heike Bodenburg may be in danger of having to close down their new business before they have had a chance to grow it.

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The Swiss/German couple arrived in Cairns from New Zealand, where they had been living, two and a half years ago for a holiday.

For various reasons they chose to stay and Heike used her skills baking goods for the nearby Eumundi markets while they lived in Maroochydore.

Dishes such as Swiss raclette, currywurst and shashlick were on the menu, as well as Black Forest cake, baked cheesecakes and apple strudel, and all were very popular.

“My wife would cook with generators,” said Reto very proudly.

“She is very clever.”

They continued their travels south and were in Byron Bay in January 2022.

“We were in Byron when the flood hit,” said Reto.

“We were living in a tent and we lost everything.

“We moved down to Wardell and what we saw made us cry.”

Reto and Heike Bodenburg inside of Heike’s Cafe.

The couple wasted no time going to the Wardell hall which was a hub for the community during the flood and asked what they could do to help.

“We were told they needed hot food for lunch so we served up hot food for 10 weeks,” said Reto.

“We ended up serving around 7,500 meals and cakes and breads as well.”

By this time Reto and Heike had replaced much of their items with second hand camping gear, but instead of a tent, they were living under a 6 metre x 3 metre gazebo, which was impractical as winter approached.

“We managed to get a cabin at Camp Koinonia, and started baking and selling our food to the Evans Head and Lismore markets,” said Reto.

Eventually they came across the empty shop with a two-bedroom unit attached, in Coraki and were able to establish a lease and Heike’s Café was born.

“We were welcomed from day one,” said Heike.

“The business has been growing ever since, which tells us we are doing the right thing.”

While all this was going on, the couple were working at making sure their visas were renewed and correct to be able to stay in Australia.

“I am a New Zealand citizen, so I came in on a 444 visa which allows me to stay until I want to leave,” said Reto.

“But my wife was on a 12 month visitor’s visa which, when we decided to stay in Australia, we had to renew.”

The first visa they submitted was declined as it said Reto was not a valid sponsor, being a New Zealand and not an Australian citizen.

“We had submitted an 820 visa when a 461 visa was the one we needed,” said Reto.

“So we sent all the details off and Heike remained on a bridging visa.

“A year later she did not receive her renewed bridging visa and they said it was because they did not receive her application.”

Reto and Heike Bodenburg in front of Heike’s Cafe.

Reto had lost the Australia Post receipts in the flood, so there was no evidence of them having sent an application.

“I went back and looked in our flooded gear and found my old wallet with the receipts in them some months later,” he said.

“But by then it could not be tracked.”

Finally, Reto and Heike have gone to a local immigration service where it will cost them over $10,000 for someone to go through their case.

“We don’t have a guarantee that it will work out in the end,” said Reto.

“Heike is allowed to stay in the country while they sort the visa out, but she is not allowed to study.”

Reto said this was a concern as being in the food handling industry, they need to be up to date with all their certifications.

Heike is also not allowed to leave the country otherwise she will be blocked for two years, according to Reto.

“We have plans for the shop but we don’t know if we are allowed to (go ahead with them) and we are unable to get finances,” he said.

It has been suggested the couple reach out to the Federal member for Page, Kevin Hogan, but meanwhile they are waiting to hear back from the immigration service.

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