Family Carnival visits the Central Highlands

One of the many great rides at Emerald’’s carnival.

Fun Time Amusements explained that they hostedcarnivals at the tail end of the COVID pandemic.
Fun Time Amusements operator, Roy Johnson explainedthat, pre-COVID, Fun Time Amusements hired amusement rides to a lot ofcorporate companies and to local events.
“When all the COVID restrictions came in, we had tore-think our business plan,” Mr Johnson said.
“A lot of local businesses lost cash flow andcouldn’t afford to hire us and other events were cancelled.
“We had two choices – find a way around it or closeup shop like a lot of amusement ride companies have done this year.
“We knew there was a market to fill for family fun,so we filled it.
“We joined as a member to The Australian AmusementLeisure & Recreation Association (AALARA), and got an approved COVIDSafeplan which we implement at all our events.
“We chose small towns as it is easy to follow ourCOVIDSafe plan.
“Currently, we have a patron limit of 1000including staff.
“We can easily manage this by travelling to thesmall towns.
“We are locally owned and operate in the CentralHighlands.
“Running these events through COVID has been tough.
“There is so much planning involved.
“Many office hours are spent liaising with councilsfor approval, obtaining different permits, and making sure there is thecliental at each event.
“The hardest part is being away from home for weeksat a time, especially as we plan the carnivals non-stop each week.
“We all have families back home.
“All the details for our event are on our Facebook- Fun Time Amusements Family Carnivals.
“Recently, we had a carnival in Emerald from November6 – 8 and have one at Blackwater for November 13 – 15, with four sessions eachweekend on Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-2pm and 5pm-9pm, and Sunday 11am-3pm.
Formore information, see Fun Time Amusements Family Carnival on Facebook.