Hard Rock Gym in Harden was last week named as a finalist in the inaugural Australian Disability Service Awards for 2021.

Out of the 12 individual categories, Hard Rock Gym reached the final for the ‘Most Outstanding Remote Service Program’ alongside two other finalists.

Hard Rock Gym was selected for their Physical, Emotional and Social Support Program, and will compete against ALT-skills – Access Learning and Training (QLD) and Wallara Online Australia (VIC).

Hard Rock Gym was anonymously nominated for the award by a member of the public who has acknowledged the contribution the gym is making to the community.

Owners of Hard Rock Gym, Glenn and Ros Stewart, will attend a black-tie event at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour, Sydney, in February when the Australian Disability Service Conference and Awards will take place.

Glenn works closely with several disabled clients in the gym, providing a safe and inclusive environment for all to work out in.

Sam White, 26, is one of Hard Rock Gym’s most valued and dedicated members, forming a strong connection with Glenn as they work out together on a regular basis.

Sam attends the gym at least five days every week, with his favourite workouts including boxing, boot camps, spin bike classes and hitting the treadmill. “Sam’s been coming to the gym for about three years now,” Glenn said.

“It was probably Sam that sort of gave us the idea to do the NDIS services.

“So, we did a bit of extra training for that and what was needed to provide those services.”

Hard Rock Gym provides individual plans for NDIS clients which helped them claim the award nomination.

“Personal training by definition is exactly that, but we can probably go further than that,” Glenn continued.

“If it means pushing a recumbent bike down into the studio for a spin bike class that’s what you got to do.

“So whatever people’s individual needs are met, and we find out ways to overcome problems.”

Glenn and Ros moved into the gym in 2014, before buying the building in the last few years.

“I have had experience in the disability space, but I’m an electrician by trade, so it’s a huge change of track for me,” Glenn admitted.

As much as Glenn would like the Hard Rock Gym to be the overall winner of the disability award category at the ceremony in February, it’s not something that would affect their day-to-day operations if they came in as a runner-up.

“It’s the sort of thing where if you don’t put yourself out there, it’s very much something that you do. Our client’s privacy is the number one priority,” he said.

Hard Rock Gym currently caters for nine NDIS supported clients at the facility, with hopes that the award recognition can help the service grow even bigger.

“We’re slowly building up our clientele, but what will be great is to obviously get some advertisement out of this for just being nominated.

So hopefully, we’ll be able to build up a bit more,” Glenn said.

Congratulations to Glenn and Ros at the Hard Rock Gym for their fantastic work for the community.

Tim Warren