03 SEP 2024

Community gym becoming a reality for Trundle township

The Trundle community will soon have a 24 hour gym at their disposal, thanks to a grant provided through Elders’ Community Giving Project. 

L-R Andrew Rawsthorne, Marcus Honorato (Forbes Agronomist), Prue Hain (Forbes Branch Operations Manager), Jake Lebrocque (Forbes Territory Sales Manager), Alex Aveyard (Plevna Merinos), Jenny Callow, Gerry Capell (Trundle Central School), & Boyd Aveyard (Plevna Merinos).

The Trundle Memorial Hall Committee has received a grant to transform an area of the building into a modern and safe community gym, accessible to all members of the community.

The grant was provided through the Elders Community Giving Project, a program established to support the needs of rural and regional communities around Australia.

The Hall already offers a range of exercise programs for community members, but the development of a dedicated space will enable the facility to expand its program offering and range of equipment.

Andrew Rawsthorne, Committee Member of the Trundle War Memorial Hall, said the gym will greatly enhance both mental and physical health in the community, particularly for local farmers, and provide a vital safe space for young people.

“The nearest gym is 60 kilometres away, and the Trundle community has long needed an accessible local facility. Converting the large, unused room at the rear of the hall into a gym was the natural solution,” Andrew said.

“Several community groups including the Trundle Cricket Club, Rugby League Club and Mothers Group have already shown interest in using the facility. We plan to have a regular yoga instructor, self-defence classes for girls hosted by Trundle Central School, Active Farmers sessions and karate lessons among other activities.”

Andrew commended Elders for its crucial role in making this project a reality.

“We applaud the real leadership Elders is showing in delivering support to regional communities across Australia,” he said.
“Without their support, the creation of this community gym and its rapid development would not have been possible.”

Elders Forbes operations manager Prue Hain emphasised the importance of the Community Giving Project for rural towns like Trundle. 

“The Elders Community Giving Project is such an important opportunity for Elders to give back and to continue to invest in our rural communities,” Prue said.

“For us at the Forbes Branch, to see the whole community of Trundle benefit from this grant is heartwarming, especially in the capacity they will be using it.”

Since 1839, Elders has been intrinsically linked to regional, rural and remote communities. The Community Giving Project is just one of the ways Elders gives back and invests in communities.