Project: Community Gym
Site
Mt Pleasant
Timeline
Unknown
Team
Mostly Men’s Shed. Join us!
A few years ago there was a state government initiative called ‘Fund my Neighbourhood’. We only found out about it quite late in the process and were unaware of other projects until we’d come up with our own (a rotunda for the CWA memorial garden - still a dream), and if we’d known, we would have supported the Talunga Clinic’s call for a Community Gym. The FMN was supposed to have a second wave of funding the year after, so we prepared ourselves to do some serious research and organising, as we’d received a good chunk of votes for a small community - with very little money being spent. Unfortunately, there was a change of government and this great community initiative was canned.
Timeline
1
Although people were receptive to the idea, there seemed to be no-one who was able to take on the task of getting a group started. We approached the Men’s Shed, as they were one of the groups the doctors had approached initially, and they thought they might be able to add it to a project they were trying to get underway.
2
Then Tom Campaniello approached us with an offer of a large shed. He’d recently purchased a property and the shed would be surplus to needs in the not-too-distant future. He was keen to give something back to the community as he’d been involved with service groups in the past, and wanted to help the community again. Tom said that he’d also transport the shed for free if it could be dismantled. Several blokes went to where the shed was located, dismantled it, and Tom’s truck then brought it up to Mt Pleasant.
3
In the meantime, we discussed it informally with others and found people who were willing to be involved - once it was set up. Unfortunately, the first use that the Men’s Shed wished for it was incompatible with a gym, so it was back to the drawing board.
4
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2021 - Since then, the Men’s Shed have been busy, dismantling the shed and storing it. Plans are now underway to repurpose it in a few ways, incorporating a gym space. This will take some time, as money needs to be raised for the slab, but we are hopeful this will still happen.
Permission has finally been granted and the same contractor who laid the slab for the big shed will be doing the small one. Another step closer!
October 23 - It’s taken a while, but with the fantastic effort of a few dedicated volunteers, the metalworking shed is almost ready for business. In the interim, it was decided that perhaps the area previously used for storage at the end of the original shed would be a safer and more comfortable place for groups of people to use. The shed is well insulated, and there would be easy access to toilet and kitchen facilities for users.
April 24 - There have been approaches from a few interested parties who are anxious to establish a gym in the town. If you are interested - please contact us by emailing on the link below: