Batemans Bay businessman Lindsay Ragg is determined to see Bay City Cinemas re-open, and has a plan to get people to support it.
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“What I want to do is get people to pledge money to buy tickets, as many as they can afford, for when the cinema re-opens,” he said.
“I want a pro forma for people to fill out where they pledge money to buy tickets on the first week they re-open, so there can be a guaranteed income as an incentive to the owners,” he said.
What I want to do is get people to pledge money to buy tickets, as many as they can afford, for when the cinema re-opens.
- Lindsay Ragg
“Hopefully this would be enough incentive to get the owners to re-open.
“If (cinema proprietors) Glenda and Wayne Churchill don’t wan’t to re-open, and I hope they do, then this would make the business more saleable and show support for the cinema.”
He is putting his money where his mouth is.
“I would buy a year’s worth of tickets,” he said.
This is generous, as Mr Ragg previously went to the movies once a week.
“I would go there for dates with my wife,” he said.
“I have already once gone to the movies at Ulladulla, and I don't want to keep doing that.”
The cinema closed following a storm of controversy and alleged threats which erupted after the family of a three-year-old girl suffering from neuroblastoma was not able to take a backpack into the cinema to see a movie on July 15.
Both sides were in sharp disagreement about the events.
The cinema closed the next day, declaring on a sign at the gate that it could no longer guarantee the safety of staff and patrons.
A Facebook post subsequently announced that it would not be reopening.
Mr Ragg is heartened by Facebook pages which have started up encouraging the cinemas to re-open, and have proved popular.
He has has a plan to bring about a positive outcome for the different parties.
“For every $200 pledged to reopening the cinema, I will donate a ticket to the oncology unit at Moruya Hospital,” he said.
“Instead of blaming people on social media, people should be sending get-well cards to the little girl.”
Email your pledges info@baylocks.com.au.