Turoa Tumblers

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 23, 8 November 1983, Page 2

Turoa Tumblers

After reading a letter sent in by 'Bare Cupboard' I felt absolute disgust and dismay. I knew there were vicious people around but this takes the cake. For someone to attack a person in public like this and not have the moral courage to sign their name really sums up the mentality of this person. If anyone feels so strongly and wishes to make public their views they should at least have the facts correct. The first comment, the regret about the letter said to be sent in by Glynn Hubbard ... this was 'Bare Cupboard V first mistake.

It was not a letter sent in from Glynn Hubbard. It was in fact an article written by a local reporter who contacted Mr Hubbard after the results of the Waimarino Sports and Recreation Grants had been announced. And that's where 'Bare Cupboard ' made his/hersecond mistake ... it had nothing to do with the Wanganui Savings Bank awards as he/ she claimed. The Wanganui Savings Bank did in fact support the Turoa Tumblers with a grant of $50 and the club appreciates this support. Now with two fundamental errors of fact in the very first paragraph of 'Bare Cupboard 's' letter what else can be believed? In the next paragraph 'Bare Cupboard' says: "he ought to have been at least grateful that his club has been favoured in past years". The article in the Bulletin quotes from Mr Hubbard: "Yes we have had grants for the last 3^1 years — and we are grateful for these" ... etc. To say "the Ohakune people have been bled by the Tumblers' fundraising" is complete nonsense. You can only bleed the community if they are getting nothing in return. Any person who has doubts as where this money, when earnt, is directed, could do well to visit the Ruapehu College and Community Gymnasium during a . gym session. They will then be able to allay these doubts and to feel the ■atmosphere as these youngsters learn skills at different levels. This feeling comes from the enthusiasm generated by coaches and children alike. But most of all to be able to learn new skills in complete safety, which is what our fundraising is all about. Our often-repeated motto when teaching these children is ... "Safety first — gymnastics second." I find the comment about the seven-year-old selling Casino Night tickets most distasteful. Tickets such as this are put in envelopes and delivered to the family — via the gymnast be he or she 5 or 15. As a parent I support anything my children join and 1 take it upon myself as does the whole family to sell these tickets. I would not expect my six-year-old to do this ... no concerned parent would. It is very hard for me not to take this letter personally as 1 feel the comment "a handful really benefit from such money" is directed at the competitive. squad. 1 have three^daughtersin this squad. All have gained this

position by hard work and enthusiasm by themselves and support by us as a family. There are new children coming into this squad each year as gymnasts and coaches realise a certain potential is there. There must be an outlet for these children. Our drop-out rate and waiting list must be an indication of the enjoyment all these gymnasts get out of the work put in. No-one likes continually fundraising, but in a small community like ours each organisation, especially those catering for children as ours does, is largely reliant on fundraising. If we didn't our stibs would be prohibitive. We have no access to after match liquor saies etc., as adult's clubs do and even these find they also have to fundraise. Turoa Tumblers have always acknowledged the work done by other groups within the community and work in with these as far as possible. Whenever fundraising is discussed we tryand do thingsthat children can help with themselves and try to give community who have ported us so well. something^T return. At a meeting held on the 19th . October, before the, letter from 'Bare Cupboard' was published. it was decided to have an Open Day on the 12th November from 10-1 2a.m., completely supervised voluntarily, where members ofthe public can come along and try out forthemselves, some of the equipment our fundraising has bpught. Any donations collected from this will be forwarded, as a community contribution, to the Cancer Society as pledged by Turoa Tumblers at a public meeting earlier this year. I suggest 'Bare Cupboard' that you should perhaps come along, anonymously of course, to see-and feel for yourself the benefits this club has broughtto the Waimarino communitj^Bh As a final comment, our^BP is there for the benefit of the children in this area. We will continue to run it as it has been in the past and 1 would urge you to be more supportive than condemning.

Pat

Mcllroy

Secretary / Coach