Landmark hotel revival hope

I WRITE to comment on the Townsville Bulletin article regarding the Victoria Park Hotel kitchen in the November 24 edition.

I grew up on Seventh Avenue, South Townsville, and my wife grew up on Sixth Avenue.

Although we have lived elsewhere for many years, I chose to hold my 70th birthday party at the Vic Park and then, just before the fire in June, my wife and I held our 50th wedding anniversary in that part of the hotel which was largely untouched by the fire.

We chose that venue because the Vic Park Hotel has been an important part of our lives, and because Robyn and Frank Sexton are such great hosts and managers of the hotel.

Several years ago, my father and his mates were regulars at the hotel for many of my early years.

My wife and I watched with sadness at 6am on the morning of the fire, as the fire was finally extinguished. We shared the potential loss of an important landmark and focal point for many.

We have been hoping that the hotel will continue to play the important role in many people’s lives that it has for the many decades that I remember.

If we held another function there, it would not feel much different, apart from the absence of a kitchen, which was situated in the old part of the hotel which was burned.

Townsville businesses are currently doing it tough and I hope that the council can assist the Sextons to gradually recover from the trauma of the fire, as this would benefit so many who identify as Ross Islanders. GARY SCOTT, Hyde Park.