The new Grange P-12 College facility features the latest gymnastics equipment and an innovative layout, designed to stimulate and encourage young people to be active.
Grange P-12 Primary School Principal, Meredith Clencie said this came about through us being able to access a community infrastructure loan. We’re just so pleased to have this facility.
“Parents love it and we push it as an alternative to screen time.”
It’s already inspiring the local students with over 965 tumbling and somersaulting their way through a 6-week gymnastics course earlier this year to improve physical literacy, whilst having some rolling fun.
Emma Coogan, PE and gymnastics teacher at the school said the space is awesome and the kids absolutely love it.
Grange Primary school student, Aarna said it has everything we need to do gymnastics and that’s nice.
“With the gymnasium we can do a lot more things and many people at our school are now gymnasts and other people who are not so good can have a try.”
Whilst outside of school hours, over 230 junior home-grown talents are also hitting the bars and mat weekly to participate in the Belgravia Kids gymnastics programs in Hoppers Crossing.
And there’s more to it than just advancing gymnastics skills, the facility has provided some additional employment opportunities for students at the Grange with operator Belgravia Leisure offering complimentary accredited gymnastics coaching courses to senior students.
Thanks to this initiative, Belgravia have gone on to employ 15 senior students who help coordinate the gymnastics program at the new Grange P-12 College gymnastics facility with opportunities for more in the future.
Belgravia CEO, Mark Rendell said thanks to the Community Sports Loan Scheme through Sport and Recreation Victoria have put in place we were able to fund the fit out of this gym through that loan scheme.
“That’s fast tracked the process, but it also allowed us to create 15 jobs for the high school students here.
“Eight of those have gone to intermediate qualification. Four of them have become supervisors. So it’s provided some great leadership opportunities and first employment for a lot of young community members
Jamie Parsons, CEO of Gymnastics Victoria said gymnastics provides a life-long love of physical fitness and activity and that’s what we want to instil in children from a very young age.
“Venues like this provide a great pathway, it starts with kindergarten kids, gymnastics helps with transition to Primary school and transition in to club activity after school here using the same venue. So it’s a really great way to keep children involved in sport as much as possible.”
The Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme provides low-interest loans for councils, clubs and organisations, to deliver and improve community sport and recreation infrastructure.
It’s part of our commitment to promoting sports and active recreation and encouraging all Victorians to get out there and get active.
For further information on the Community Sports Infrastructure Loans Scheme