Bowled over by wet weather

Bowlers have been turned away and children’s parties cancelled as Northern Bowl struggles to recover from damage sustained during a violent storm earlier this month.

The short but severe hail storm that hit Wollongong’s northern suburbs on February 7 dumped so much rainfall onto the popular Russell Vale bowling alley that water poured into the inside of the building causing more than $100,000 of damage to carpet, ceilings and electrical equipment.

Luckily, no customers were bowling at the time – but two employees were inside.

Taryn Sheffield, one of the employees trapped in the building as the storm hit, described her ordeal.

“As we turned around all the water was coming in through the lights and the ceiling and roof started to sort of come in a bit,” she said.

The business had to shut down after the storm and has been trying to sort out insurance issues connected to repairs ever since.

Ben Shute, Manager and co-owner of the alley, said the disaster came as the business was experiencing a massive boom.

“Business was unbelievable,” he said

“Our last four weeks we were close to tripling figures on when we first bought it in August (2007).”

Two pool tables, all of the bowling shoes, electrical equipment, ceilings and carpet, all worth thousands of dollars, were damaged beyond repair in the downpour.

Luckily the alleys themselves weren’t damaged, but Mr Shute has still had to turn away scores of disappointed bowlers.

He has also needed to call the parents of numerous children who had booked birthday parties at the venue, requesting that they make other arrangements.

In June last year the Wollongong and Northern Leader reported on community concerns over the alley’s possible closure. However, since John Hugo and grandson Mr Shute took over, business appears to have boomed.

Ausbowl, the previous owner of the facility, decided to opt out in mid 2007.