No relocation offer, say judo club

Woy Woy Judo Club has relocated to the Ettalong Senior Citizens Centre after the closure of Ettalong Progress Hall last December.

Club administrator Ms Lindy Simmons said Gosford Council did not offer to help relocate the club to a new venue as stated by council's director of community services and organisational development Mr Terry Thirlwell in Peninsula News on January 22.

"There were five groups hiring the Ettalong hall on a regular basis at the time and we were told of the impending closure from the caretaker in the last week of November," Ms Simmons said.

"We were told that we had two weeks to remove any equipment and vacate the building.

"We were not however, as stated by Terry Thirwell in Peninsula News, contacted by community services with offers of other venues.

"After talking amongst ourselves, the groups put out by the hall closure contacted community services and asked what are we supposed to do now?

'We were told that the building would be assessed and if it was to re-open, it would be advertised for lease by an incorporated body.

"No time limit was given for that outcome and no offer of relocation was given."

Ms Simmons said the club has been "fortunate enough" to be welcomed by the Ettalong Senior Citizens Centre and has since resumed training on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Press release, 18 Feb 2010 Lindy Simmons, Woy Woy Judo Club