Armidale gym club celebrates its new HQ opening

The Armidale community turned out in force today for the official opening of a facility that has kids, and sometimes their parents, doing handstands and somersaults.
Officially opening the new Armidale City Gymnastics Club near the corner of Kentucky and Dangar Streets, Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay paid tribute to the huge contribution made by the business and wider community to the project.
The Club began in 1991 in the Auditorium of Armidale City Public School and as it grew larger moved to the Physical Education Hall at Armidale High School.
Now with more than 200 registered gymnastics from pre-school to adult and a team of volunteer coaches and administrators the Club has its own headquarters in a vast purpose built shed with a mezzanine floor.
With a state government contribution of $163,000 and $60,500 from Armidale Dumaresq Council the campaign to raise the remainder of the funds for the $500,000 plus facility involved, what one member described as “lots of sausage sizzles”.
“It has been a great community effort with the state government, the council, many business people and supporters 100 per cent behind it,” Mr Torbay said. “Wally O’Hara’s leadership and his family’s support has been indispensible.
“The current president Shirley Spooner and the whole team have worked so hard to open up new sporting opportunities in the region by making this great facility available to people of all ages.”
Since it began the Club has produced many north-west regional champions, state and country medalists and overall champions in men’s, women’s and rhythmic gymnastics. Two members of the Club Anthony Kemper in 2000 and Hylast Choct in 2006 and 2007 competed in the National Championships. Hylast became Overall National Champion in Rhythm Gymnastics Level 8 in 2007.
In addition to the state government and Armidale Dumaresq Council, sponsors of the project included Armidale City Public School, Armidale High School, Jamie Hook (Hawkins, Hook &Co), Kath Neilson (Shingleback Design); New England Credit Union, Olivia Fulloon (Cressbrook Farm Trees), Ron Wright (RF Wright and Associates), Ernie Selby (Selby Constructions Pty Ltd), Tony Deakin (Magoffin and Deakin) and Mark and Helen Smith (Tri-Tech Security).