Call for gym volunteers

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 543, 5 July 1994, Page 15

Call for gym volunteers

An urgent meeting of Turoa Tumblers supporters was held at the club's lodge in Miro Street, Ohakune last week, in a last ditch effort to find a new co-ordinator for once-weekly primary school recreational gym. Retiring head coach Laureen Hays who has been involved with the club for the past 12 years told the gathering of 10 that the club's current coaching staff has remained unchanged for four years and, without new coaches to step in, there was a very real chance that the club would have to fold. Mrs Hays said there are 30 children aged 5-12 who currently attend Wednesday afternoon recreational gym classes. "It would be a shame to see it fold after all these years", she said.

Children who attend the 1& 1/2 hour classes learn how to interact with other children, as well as co-ordination and basic gymnastic skills, with an emphasis on fun. One parent in attendance, Margaret Bennellick, agreed to take over the job of co-ordinator, with the backing of six other parents who indicated they would be available to run the weekly classes on a rotational basis. The services of existing coaches, including Mrs Hays, will be available until the end of the year, to assist those parents to settle into the new coaching routine. Mrs Hays told the group that she would investigate the feasibility of holding the junior introductory gymnastics course - a training requirement for trainee coaches - at an Ohakune venue.