Oakleigh Olympic Ice Skating Centre in Go Fund Me campaign fightback
Victoria’s oldest ice skating rink was on thin ice, with the cost of maintenance and the coronavirus lockdown casting doubts on its future. But then an emotional community campaign raised more than $50,000 in just seven days.
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A community campaign looks to have saved a popular Monash sporting venue from becoming another victim of the coronavirus.
A Go Fund Me campaign has raised more than $50,000 in just seven days as skaters and ice hockey players rally around Oakleigh’s Olympic Ice Skating Centre — the oldest rink in the state.
Owners of the Centre Rd venue Joey Hughes and Tony Theobald have had to deal with dozens of maintenance issues in recent years but loss of revenue from the coronavirus lockdown threatened the rink’s viability.
But Mr Hughes said the fundraising also allowed them to make a “catch-22” decision to melt the ice.
Without the ice they can embark on a full-scale upgrade to level the sand base, and install new roof insulation, refrigerator panels and a dehumidifier but re-establishing the skating rink will be costly, he said.
“I didn’t realise how much support we’d get from the community. The emotional impact (the campaign) has had on me has been huge and I have to make sure this rink survives,” Mr Hughes said.
Skating coach Dimitra Houdalakis said the upgrade would ensure the rink was around for future generations to enjoy.
“We are very overwhelmed with people’s generosity considering the state that the whole world is in,” she said.
“The centre is loved by the community near and far (but) we were in desperate need of renovations to upgrade the rink for the next generation.”
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Operations manager Chris Cullen said it was “overwhelming how quickly we were able to raise money”.
“Everyone wants this rink to survive,” he said.
The rink, which opened in 1971 and is Victoria’s oldest ice skating venue, employs about 20 people.
Visit Go Fund Me to support the rink.