A popular coastal restaurant faces an uncertain future following the sudden death of its co-owner.
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restaurant → face → owner
Blake Rogers, 56, was reported missing in East Ballina in the NSW Northern Rivers on September 21.
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Rogers → report → September
His body was found later that day.
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body → find → ?
Police are treating his death as non-suspicious.
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Police → treat → death
Mr Rogers was the driving force behind the Chido Cantina restaurant in Lennox Head, a coastal town 20km south of Byron Bay, which he took over three years ago with his wife Cilla.
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he → drive → wife
He leaves behind his wife and three children - Xanthe, Zane and Ashlee.
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He → leave → wife
'I am absolutely shattered.
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I → shatter → ?
I love you forever Dad,' Ashlee posted at the time.
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Ashlee → love → time
An emotional post shared to Chido's social media following Mr Rogers' death said that family and staff had 'no words' for the tragedy.
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family → share → tragedy
The statement added that the Mexican eatery formerly known as Pancho Villa will remain closed 'while we navigate this extremely difficult chapter of our lives'.
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we → add → lives
Blake Rogers (above) was reported missing on September 21 and was found dead later the same day
Mr Rogers' (above) funeral was held on October 8 and a paddle-out in his honour is planned for October 24
The restaurant remained closed on Monday, three weeks after Mr Rogers' death.
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restaurant → report → death
The loss has deeply affected the close-knit community in northern NSW, sparking an outpouring of tributes from customers and hospitality operators.
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loss → affect → customers
Lennox eateries Slicks and Baraka shared a joint statement reflecting on Mr Rogers' death following his funeral in Ballina last week.
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eateries → share → Ballina
Co-owners Kat and Ric said the loss made them 'stop and think about what sits behind the places we love'.
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we → say → places
'Running a small business can be incredibly beautiful.
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Running → run → business
It can also be incredibly lonely,' Kat wrote.
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Kat → write → ?
'There are the late nights, the numbers, the responsibility, the pressure and the sacrifices your family makes alongside you.
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family → be → you
'Look after your people and don't assume that someone seeming okay means they are.
'Rest easy mate.
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they → look → people
Ric and I are expecting a seat at your table and a bloody delicious margarita waiting for me when we get there.'
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we → expect → me
Community members recalled Mr Rogers (above) as kind and dedicated to his business
Mr Rogers was co-owner of Chido Cantina (above) in Lennox Head, which remains closed
A customer wrote: 'My husband and I had our first date at Chido and have had many dates there since over the years - always to be warmly welcomed by Blake.
'We fell pregnant last year with our Chido baby and visited for dinner for our first postpartum date.
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We → recall → date
Blake gave us big hugs, congratulations and parenting advice.
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Blake → give → hugs
'It was obvious that he absolutely loved his family to bits.
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he → love → bits
We are devastated for your loss and the loss to the Lennox community.
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We → devastate → community
Mourners at his funeral last week were urged to donate to local men's mental health organisation The Healthy Minds Club in lieu of flowers.
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Mourners → urge → flowers
The community is still reeling three weeks on from Mr Rogers' death.
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community → reel → death
A memorial paddle-out in his honour is planned for October 24 at North Wall Ballina.
'Absolutely heartbreaking.
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out → plan → Ballina
Sending all our love, strength and deepest condolences to Blake's family, friends and everyone who loved him.
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who → send → him
Rest peacefully Blake,' one local wrote.
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local → rest → ?
Another added: 'We were on holidays at Lennox this year, there was a storm that rolled in and we met Blake because he ushered us inside while it poured rain.
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it → add → rain
The community has rallied around Mr Rogers' family to raise more than $50,000
A third recalled: 'Blake gave my girls their first job with no experience.
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Blake → rally → experience
He was always willing to give everyone a start!
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He → give → start
Mr Rogers has been remembered as a devoted husband, deeply loving and incredibly proud father and much loved member of the community.
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Rogers → remember → community
'Chido was a place Blake and his family created for their community.
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Blake → create → community
At the heart of it all was Blake,' family friend Fabiana Vieira Severino wrote on a fundraiser.
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Severino → write → fundraiser
'He was known for his incredible generosity, his kindness and, most of all, his smile.
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He → know → all
Blake had a genuine ability to make people feel welcome and valued.
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people → have → ability
He gave so much of himself to the people around him, and his presence became such a familiar and loved part of the Lennox Head community.'
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presence → give → community
The fundraiser, which has already raised $50,000, aims to give the family breathing room while they grieve.
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they → raise → room
'His family is facing a loss that is impossible to put into words,' Ms Severino wrote.
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Severino → face → words
'Chido Cantina has closed its doors as the family takes the time they need to grieve, come together and work out what the future looks like.
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future → close → what
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
