A sense of community is an important part of the culture of the gym. Alex
Tui has been the manager of the gym for 15 years and provides strong
consistency and mentoring. Alex is a world-title kickboxing champion and a
highly respected coach, mentor and member of the community.
It was during last
year that Trevor Davies, one of this paper’s editors and its Distribution Coordinator,
started on his long journey of weight loss. This
was reported last year, and it
prompted Leigh Coleman from Hillsong in Waterloo
to sponsor Trevor for three months. Then they got together with the gym and
started to approach local businesses, inviting them to come and sponsor young
Aboriginal people. Trevor and Leigh have started to work to raise money for
this iconic Redfern institution.
The good news is that people are starting to offer sponsorships. The
Federal Member, Tanya Plibersek, is supporting a young person for 12 months at
the gym, and Ben Spiers- Butcher, the Greens candidate for Heffron, is doing
the same thing.
Why is this necessary?
Sadly, in 2004, the Mundine Gym stopped receiving Federal Government funding.
The long-term future of the gym is dependent on continual funding and support
from the local community.
Your money will help pay the membership of a young Aboriginal person:
12 month gym membership $230; 3 month gym membership $120. All sponsorship and
donations over $2 are tax deductible. Contact General Manager Lani Tuitavala on
9698 9249 / 0413 289 464.
Source: South Sydney Herald February 2007