TOOLEYBUC Sporting Club has been allowed to reopen since regional New South Wales came out of lockdown on September 9, but general manager Paul Sills is left with many empty seats.
“Ninety per cent of people who come to the club come from across the river in Victoria – they come from Swan Hill, Robinvale, Piangil, Nyah and Nyah West,” he said.
“We’re still open from 11am each day, and we’ve got the bar, the bistro and the gaming rooms open, however if someone from Victoria came over here for a pint of beer, they wouldn’t be able to get home.
“Until Daniel Andrews sees some sense, it may be like that for some time.”
Tooleybuc is one of the border towns that has a constant police presence at the bridge, and Mr Sills is concerned that may also be a deterrent for customers down the line.
“We’ve had to put off a lot of shows, but we’re hoping to have them in October, including an Abba show.
“And then one of the key events is the Melbourne Cup luncheon in November.
“So while we’re lucky in that we can open back up with one person per four square metres, if our customers from Victoria can’t come over, I don’t see how these easings of restrictions are helping us at all.
“Most politicians don’t get it, they’re bureaucrats who have never run a business in their life.”
Mr Sills said golf will still be going ahead at the course, and bowls will still be occurring at the club, but no competitions have been scheduled for the next six to eight weeks.
“It’s a similar story out at Murray Downs, and they’re even more isolated, and Swan Hill has a bigger police presence at their bridge,” he said.
“It’s a shame – I’d love to have our customers back here.”
