(photo courtesy of Sumpton's Gold Rush Gazette)
Prominent locals Peter and Joy O’Keefe announced the closure of Charters Towers Indoor Sports after 36 years.
Owner and manager Mr O’Keefe said it was a privilege to run Charters Towers Indoor Sports for such a long period of time.
“I'm gonna miss this more than anyone,” he said.
“It'll get to me, I'll miss it.
“They're all like family and even last night, a couple of girls were crying here, they’ve been playing for 20 odd years.
“I come to work, get a beer, and talk to people.
“You can’t do that anywhere else.
“It’s the best job going.”
The last ever Indoor Sports Finals at the centre were hosted on the 2nd and 3rd of June.
Mr O’Keefe also said the decision to close the facility was difficult.
“It was hard to make the decision but we can't stay here forever sort of thing,” he said.
“It's good to do something different for a while, try it, see what it’s like anyway.
“I've been a nervous wreck the last week.”
Mr O’Keefe thanked the hardworking locals who have helped out over the years.
“We've had really good staff working here,” he said.
“There was one lady here, Jenny Logan, she was here for bloody 10 to 15 years.
“We've had umpires and like even Tim the cook, he's been cooking sausages for the last probably 10 years.
“And we've had good sponsors.
“Choice Meats gives us our snags every Friday night, things like that.
“There's a thousand people to thank, but you just don't know where to start.”
