The sign says it all: Hardrock Gymnasium & Health Club. Harden Murrumburrah is getting closer to having its very own fully functional Gym and Health Club.
Harden’s fitness fraternity is in a state of delirium, with a Development Application to be lodged for the establishment of a fully functioning gymnasium at the ‘Sewell’s’ building in Station Street, also formerly known as Foodworks.
Glenn & Ros Stewart are preparing the application for the ‘Hard Rock Gym’, which will include toilets and showers, as well as disabled access. The application will also include a ‘change of use for the site’. The gymnasium will take up two-thirds of the building, and they hope to have opening hours of 6-10 am and 4-8 pm 7 days a week. During the middle of the day, classes for ladies fitness, seated classes for seniors, and ‘mums and bubs’ classes may be held. Martial Arts may also be run at night as well.
It is hoped the gym will open in June or July pending approval of the Development Application, with employment opportunities for locals a possibility. “There is an opportunity to fill other gaps in the town,” said Glenn Stewart. “This could include a play group for infants, as well as gentle exercise for seniors.”
The proposed gymnasium is welcome news in the town, which has been without such a facility since 2005, when a gym at the current Men’s Shed site in East Street closed its doors after a short period of operation.
The gymnasium will be a not-for-profit operation, with funds raised to go directly to Zac’s Place Incorporated ‘Give a Man a Home’ Project in Murrumburrah and fund community projects in the gym such as employment training.
The ‘Give a Man a Home’ project provides temporary housing to the disadvantaged, giving residents supported living in order to maintain links in the community. The ‘Give a Man a Home Project’ has been successfully providing a home in Yass for disadvantaged people since 2011, and hopes to serve Harden-Murrumburrah in the same way. The project has renovated a house in Murrumburrah for the purpose, which Glenn and Ros hope will be open in February.
The Project welcomes any donations and help. Contact Glenn Stewart on 0409 384 444 or Ros Stewart on 0406 379 561. Ros took out the Shop Local campaign in December claiming $6000 in prizes. Glenn said “A lot of the prize was helpful in renovating the house.” Glenn and Ros are looking forward to relocating to Harden Murrumburrah soon. The website address for Zac’s place is http://www.zacsplaceinc.org/give-a-man-a-home
