Athletes struggling with mental health after ice rink closure
When Tasmania’s only ice rink closed its doors for good, many were left devastated, including a young figure skater who was forced to make a difficult decision.
Tasmania
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Months on from the closure of Tasmania’s only ice rink, one young figure skater has had to move to Melbourne to continue the sport she loves.
Olivia Rayner (14) has been skating for seven years, and the Glenorchy ice rink was like a second home to her.
“For Liv, it’s a passion and it was something she trained four times a week for, she’s always trying to improve and set goals, she doesn’t know where it might take her,” Olivia’s mother Jen Rayner said.
The ice rink closed its doors in May, and now a development application has been lodged for a new art gallery to be built at the site.
Olivia was one of many athletes left without a suitable place to train, and she’s now left the state to continue training.
She’s now living in Melbourne with her grandmother, while her parents remain working in Tasmania.
“It was a hard decision but Olivia’s wellbeing was number one and losing the ice rink, it left a big hole in her life,” Ms Rayner said.
“It’s a sport that requires you do it constantly to maintain your skill level.
“She trains about three times a week now and she’s now got a Victorian coach. The coach she’s got was an Australia champion figure skater.”
Ms Rayner said her family hoped Olivia a solution would be found soon, so Olivia can come home.
“At the moment it’s a trial and we’ll reassess at the end of the year, but we really hope by then there might be an announcement of funding so she can come back to Tasmania,” Ms Rayner said.
President of Ice Sports Tasmania Anna Holliday said many athletes had been left in a difficult position.
“We still have a lot of athletes struggling with their mental health, many individuals are seeking counselling over the loss of their sport,” Ms Holliday said.
“At the time the rink closed there were over 200 people playing ice hockey or training as figure skaters.”
Ms Holliday said the change was different for figure skaters.
“Ice hockey players have an advantage in many ways, the can play in line hockey, it’s not the same but they have managed to transition which has kept their community together,” she said.
“Unfortunately for the figure skaters, there isn’t a complimentary sport to help them train.”
Over the last few months, Ice Sports Tasmania has been busily fundraising to assist athletes who need to travel.
“It’s a relatively small proportion privileged enough to travel, which is sad to see,” Ms Holliday said.
“We’ve funded over 40 athletes to train and compete with ice hockey or figure skating, that’s thanks to the generosity of our community.”
“We are spending each weekend and every month we have a range of fundraising designed to raise money to give back to the athletes to help with the burden for them to continue to train and play.”
Acting sports minister Michael Ferguson said the state government was looking into a solution.
“We want every Tasmanian to have best opportunity to participate in their chosen sport or pastime,” he said.
“At Minister Street’s request, the Department of State Growth is currently preparing advice on the effect of the closure of Tasmania’s ice rink and whether there could be a suitable and sustainable model for the delivery and ongoing operation of a new ice rink in Tasmania.”
What’s next for vacant ice rink building?
The transformation of the former Glenorchy Ice Skating Rink to an art gallery has began, after a development application was lodged with the Glenorchy City Council.
The sporting facility, which was the only ice rink in Tasmania, permanently closed its doors in May this year.
Tasmania is the only state in the country without a full-sized ice rink.
Before it closed, Tasmania’s ice-sporting community fought for it to be kept open, fearing the closure would spell the end for Tasmanian ice-sports.
The business had been run by one family for more than 40 years, with the operators selling up so they could retire.
An application for change of use was lodged with the council last month.
It shows most of the actual ice rink would be converted into the gallery space, and the plans also include a workshop.
The Glenorchy City Council planning authority will consider the DA in November.
Representations for the application must be received by October 26.
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