End of an era as Bunbury rollerskating rink set to close

Australia Broadcast Center

4 hours ago

Finances and challenges with remote management are forcing one of Western Australia's last remaining purpose-built rollerskating rinks to close its doors.
Bunbury's The Rink opened in 1999 and has since churned out some of Australia's best skaters, including the country's top male artistic skater Andrew Beattie.
However, co-owners Susan Brooks and Ozzy Kilgallon, who both live in Perth, have announced the business will close on June 30.
The building in Davenport, Bunbury's industrial area, is being advertised as "a great investment opportunity" with offers now being accepted.
The announcement of the venue's closure is already being felt across Bunbury, particularly for those who compete in the sport.
Denice Seymour, recently named WA's 2025 State Champion in the Masters Ladies Figures division, has been skating at the Bunbury venue since it opened 26 years ago.
Her daughter, son and granddaughter have all skated there as well.
"Having The Rink here in Bunbury was the best thing because I wasn't missing out on what I absolutely loved doing," Seymour said.
Seymour will compete in the 2025 Australian Roller Sports National Artistic Championships in July.
However, she was fearful the Bunbury rink closure would mark the start of the end of her career.
"I've been trying to picture my life without skating and I don't know, it's hard," Seymour said.
"It concerns me for the future of skating here because where are people going to go?
The venue opened 26 years ago when Susan Brooks, an artistic skating coach, saw an opportunity to transform an old indoor volleyball centre.
She co-owns the Bunbury venue with Ozzy Kilgallon, who also runs the Morley Rollerdrome in Perth.
He told the ABC "changing circumstances" led to the decision to sell the building.
"Finances were one factor, but the other one was having management from here was proving more difficult than expected," Mr Kilgallon said.
"We weren't going forward, we weren't going backwards, but down the track, rates come in, insurance goes up and if we couldn't keep it affordable for families, it couldn't exist.
"In the end, we decided it's in our best interest to sell the building, and The Rink business goes along with that."
June 29 will be the venue's final public skate session, with the Artistic Skating Club to continue using the site until it is purchased.
Mr Kilgallon said he could not thank the community enough for their support over the last 26 years.