For Point Cook’s Greg Elmer, 5pm on a Thursday afternoon used to mean it was time for ten-pin bowling.
For 10 years, the 31-year-old joined dozens of others with intellectual and physical disabilities for a weekly competition at the Wyn City bowling centre in Point Cook.
Ten-pin bowling was just part of the attraction.
“Yeah I’ve made a lot of friendships,” said Mr Elmer of what the weekly competition provided he and his fellow disabled bowlers.
“It’s important because all the people make friendships they wouldn’t make in the outside world.”
But that all changed in June when Wyn City sold the Point Cook centre to Strike Bowling.
“When the new owners took over they did renovations and we haven’t played since June 1st,” said Mr Elmer who was of the understanding the competitions would resume once they were complete.
However when the Strike Bowling Centre in Point Cook re-opened last week, they learnt otherwise.
“My mate got an email last week saying it wasn’t on,” said Mr Elmer.
“They (Strike) said they didn’t do bowling competitions at their centre.”
In a statement to Star Weekly, Niall O’Doherty, chief operating officer of Strike’s parent company, Funlab, confirmed this was the case.
“Strike is not registered as a professional ‘league’ club which means we’re unable to host certain bowling tournaments and competitions,” Mr O’Doherty said.
What upsets Mr Elmer is that this is not what they were told ahead of the sale.
“We were told by Wyn City that the new owners would continue the competition,” he said.
Wyn City’s Jason Wallace disputes this, saying bowlers were told that Strike would advise them on what, if any, programs they offered, once the new centre opened.
While Strike has offered the group price discounts and other concessions, allowing them use of the centre for one hour competitions is not among them.
Mr Elmer said he wasn’t the only one disappointed at what he called a ‘miscommunication’.
“Other people have been very angry and upset,” he said.
“It’s important to all people with a disability that go there.
“They need the competition for social interaction with more people.”
Mr Elmer said a recent informal meeting at the re-opened centre failed to fill the void.
“We’ve tried that and not many people turned up.
“We need a proper competition.”
Strike Bowling said discussions between the parties were ongoing.
