Moda Events Portside put in liquidation, leaving customers shocked
One of Brisbane’s most well-known function centres has been put into liquidation just days before Christmas, leaving couples devastated and desperately searching for a new wedding venue.
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OUT-of-pocket brides are among dozens of people left scrambling to find a new venue for their event after the shock closure of a riverside function centre left creditors owed thousands of dollars.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Brisbane’s Moda Events Portside was put into liquidation last week owing $50,000 to staff and more than $350,000 to creditors.
The picturesque Hamilton venue which boasted three function rooms and stunning views of Brisbane was put into a shock liquidation on December 17, with at least 36 events on Moda’s books cancelled.
Lauren Phillips planned to hold her wedding reception at the “sophisticated” Hamilton venue in October next year.
She was shocked when liquidators appointed to the company notified her it had closed.
“I’m pretty upset and disappointed,” she said.
“We were looking forward to having our reception there.”
Ms Phillips and her fiance Phil Mills, who graduated high school together in 1999 but have dated for one year, paid a $2000 deposit to Moda they are now unlikely to get back.
She is considering herself lucky despite the financial loss.
“To have that buffer of 10 months to find another venue is fortunate,” she said.
Moda opened in 2006 and classed itself as “Brisbane’s premier destination for all occasions contemporary, cosmopolitan and chic”.
Its staff are owed $49,629 in entitlements while creditors are out of pocket $368,560.
With company assets of just $41,000, liquidator David Quin tips there will be a $448,302 deficiency.
Moda director Gale Davidson has been uncontactable.
Bride-to-be Brittany Kenny planned her wedding ceremony and reception for Moda’s “stunning” venue in late 2020.
She and childhood sweetheart Rajan Opepaia-Halls were due to marry on October 16, ten years after they first started dating in high school.
Now the 25-year old could be up to $15,000 out-of-pocket with, Ms Kenny receiving the heartbreaking cancellation news just days before Christmas.
“It does have a massive impact financially,” she said.
“I honestly have no idea what to do.
“I’ve potentially lost so much money.”
Ms Kenny said her 140-person event was too big for many Brisbane venues to hold.
“Everything has blown up for us,” she said.
About 40 of Fred Veve’s friends and family are flying into Australia this week to attend his 50th birthday celebrations at Moda.
He realised the event wouldn’t happen when he attended the venue last week.
“I walked into the premises and I was approached by two staff members from the centre management at Portside who advised me Moda Events was in liquidation,” he said.
“I was shocked at the time, given the fact I wasn’t notified earlier on.
“If I didn’t go in I wouldn’t have known until this week.”
Mr Veve isn’t likely to get his $3000 deposit back, but is refusing to let it ruin his Christmas or birthday.
“I’m grateful I can cut my losses and carry on,” he said.
“There are people who are worse off than me.
“I’m concerned about the welfare of the staff because they’re out of work before Christmas.”
He said Ms Davison had been silent.
“There’s no apology whatsoever which is annoying,” he said.
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