ENTERTAINMENT venues within regional Victoria have reopened just in time for the school holidays.
Sunraysia Tenpin and Putt Putt Mildura were among the venues filled with excited school children earlier this week.
Putt Putt Mildura employee Tanya Rudd said since reopening on Friday there has been no shortage of customers.
“As staff we were happy and excited and (customers) were also really happy – happy to be out and about and happy to do something other than walking,” she said.
“It’s so good to be back and for our mental health and being able to communicate face to face.”
Among those excited to have Putt Putt Mildura back open was Gol Gol’s Melissa Webley and her two sons, who played a round of mini golf with their school friends on Tuesday.
“We always try to do something fun and a treat in the school holidays but this was a real treat and special with this the second time in six weeks that the boys have been able to come over the bridge,” Ms Webley said.
“The kids were super excited and this is something really fun for them to do.”
For many Sunraysia families a visit to Sunraysia Tenpin is a school holiday tradition, one that Miriam Jones was glad she could continue this week with her 10-year-old grandson Mayson Bailey.
“It was a surprise that we were going and so was his pop, he was over the moon when we arrived,” Ms Jones said.
“The kids have been coming bowling since they were five and they love it so much.”
While entertainment venues have been able to reopen, they are currently capped at 20 patrons inside.
Sunraysia Tenpin owner Rob Garioch, who has already had his business closed for more than 40 weeks altogether throughout various lockdowns, said the restrictions made it hard for businesses to operate.
“It is disappointing, it’s very difficult with staff and being able to offer them adequate hours and we don’t want them struggling financially any more than they have to,” he said.
“With all the lanes filled we could have 96 bowling at one time but restrictions are only allowing 20.
“We are having to reschedule and turn away big bookings – this Saturday we have had to reschedule a group of 60 for the third time.”
Mr Garioch said he is constantly looking into the ever-changing restrictions.
“Every lockdown it’s a new set of rules,” he said.
“Moving forward, one of the hard parts is understanding if the double vaccination will be mandated and how it will be enforced and if it will become an extra burden put onto our staff.
“It’s very difficult, there is no forthcoming information from the government.”
Despite the difficulties the current restrictions are causing, Mr Garioch said the response from the public to being reopened has been great.
“We have had a really good response from people, everyone so far has been really positive,” he said.
