Operator reveals ‘the truth’ about Kids Academy Hope Island’s sudden closure

The operator of a popular Gold Coast childcare which suddenly closed has told jobless staff and parents left in the lurch “the truth” behind it - a falling out between best mates.

THE operator of a popular Gold Coast childcare centre which suddenly shut has told jobless staff and parents left in the lurch “the truth” behind it - a falling out between best mates.

Kids Academy Hope Island operator Scott Hookey has given his side of events after the childcare was suddenly closed last Friday – following a lease termination – with little notice for staff, parents or kids.

It was so abrupt that teachers rushed in on Friday morning to retrieve student belongings including artworks, sleeping bags and toys, the Bulletin revealed this morning.

In a Facebook post on the Kids Academy Hope Island page, Mr Hookey has written how a Supreme Court battle with his former best friend – the landlord – led to the closure of the centre.

Kids Academy Hope Island operator Scott Hookey (left) and its landlord John Whitelaw whose court battle has forced the childcare centre to suddenly close. Supplied

“Well I think it’s about time everyone knew the truth about the closure of Kids Academy Hope Island,” Mr Hookey’s lengthy comment stated.

“I am the owner of Kids Academy Hope Island and I have been in the industry for over 26 years caring for hundreds of thousands of children and families across 10 centres.”

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Mr Hookey writes he and the centre’s landlord John Whitelaw, who he describes as his “then best friend”, originally had a business partnership “based on trust and some written documents”.

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The Bulletin has seen a Supreme Court decision dated late last month which details the falling out between the pair and makes orders – which Mr Hookey says will be appealed in September.

“Although Mr Whitelaw won the case ... I am extremely confident in the appeal process that we are now in,” Mr Hookey said

Kids Academy Hope Island

Mr Hookey concluded his comment by passing on his sincere apologies for the closure of the centre.

Mr Hookey followed up with another comment drafted by one of his solicitors stating he and Mr Whitelaw had been in a dispute since about May 2018 over whether the pair were business partners or landlord and tenant.

Alyson Faulkner and her granddaughter Ava, 3, whose daycare Kids Academy Hope Island was closed because of friends court battle. Supplied

Mr Hookey wrote that Mr Whitelaw left “the tenant” with no alternative but to “close the centre immediately” and stated an appeal is scheduled for September 2020 to be heard by the Court of Appeal.

Affected families replied to Mr Hookey’s comments, writing they appreciated the information but wrote “serious consideration for the families, children and staff in this process should have been taken into consideration.”