Photo caption: Jumping for joy at Inverell’s Sapphire City Gymnastics Club with a $27,000 grant secured to replace the current dilapidated trampoline, with Club Coach Debi Hankins, left, and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Wednesday, 18 January 2023
INVERELL’S Sapphire City Gymnastic Club members are jumping for joy after receiving news from Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall today of their success in securing a $27,000 Community Building Partnership from the State Government to purchase a new trampoline.
Mr Marshall said that for the past decade the gymnastics club had predominately focused on the use of trampolines, equipment which was now well past its safe and useful life.
“When the club first approached me about securing some assistance to purchase some new trampolines, I was amazed by the amount of use and condition of the current equipment,” Mr Marshall said.
“There’s no doubt that current members are at a disadvantage when it comes to training for competitions, having to work on a trampoline which is old and is nothing like the modern versions which they will be using as they move through the ranks.
“This grant will enable the club to purchase a brand new trampoline that features end beds for safety, which will give their students confidence to enjoy their sport as well as ensuring the future of the club.
“This is a great result for the club and I’m pleased to see this funding hitting the mark and helping this important community organisation continue to serve the Inverell district.”
Sapphire City Gymnastic Club coach Debi Hankins said the new trampoline would make training and competing a lot safer for members and would see the sport strengthen in the community
“Our membership numbers have been increasing since the re-opening of the gym after COVID and by providing this new piece of safe equipment, we’re hoping this will encourage more people to take up the sport,” Mrs Hankins said.
“We hope it will encourage current members to be more willing to push to higher levels of competition which will see it become more prominent within our community
“I am gobsmacked and extremely excited to be given this opportunity and am positive that every member of our club will benefit from this addition to our equipment.”