By Alesha Capone
The owner of a family-run Hoppers Crossing indoor sports centre says he is hopeful the business will be able to re-open following the COVID-19 pandemic.
John Almond has been running Hoppers Indoor Sportz, which specialises in indoor cricket, indoor netball, children’s sports parties and functions, for 13 years.
Mr Almond said the business shut its doors on March 22, the same day that Prime Minister Scott Morrison said indoor sports centres must close.
Mr Almond said his family understood the reasons for the shutdown, but it had left them feeling “absolutely shattered”.
“There is still a risk we might not re-open – we know everyone’s in the same boat,” he said.
“But we hope to re-open. We want to be around for another 13 years, we feel like we are a part of the community.”
Mr Almond said that after the sports centre closed last month, he had been left with no choice but to contact customers and cancel around three weeks’ worth of function bookings, including children’s birthday parties.
“We feel bad for the kids who have missed their birthday celebrations,” he said.
“We were kept busy for a bit, returning people’s deposits.”
Mr Almond said that the organisers of one function, a family reunion, had mentioned they hoped to re-book the event after the pandemic lockdown was over.
Mr Almond also praised Wyndham council’s actions in supporting local businesses during the pandemic.
“They have been calling to see if there is anything they can do, to see if we’re OK and also doing business support online, and health and wellbeing,” he said.
