Published on 30 July 2026
It started with a Facebook post. In 2024, teenage siblings Tyson and Alissa Rahaley were tiring of the team sports they’d played for years, and in mum Skye’s estimation, they’d fallen into bad habits.
“They were spending lots of time on screens or just roaming around with friends,” Skye explains.
A Facebook post advertising a free council boxing program for young people at Aldinga Recreation Centre, however, seemed like too good an opportunity to shake things up.
Tyson had mentioned a passing interest in boxing to his parents before, so the decision was made to sign the siblings up to give it a go.
“We got there and met this bloke, Jesse [who was coaching the sessions], and that was it,” recalls dad, Daniel.
Fast-forward 2 years, and the Rahaleys live and breathe boxing, averaging 3 nights a week at Jones Boxing Gym, which Jesse runs from Noarlunga Recreation Centre.
Tyson, now 16, wants to eventually turn pro like his inspirational coach Jesse did, and he recently had his first amateur fight. He’s coaching the gym’s kids’ boxing classes and wants to complete a Certificate III in Fitness to further his career prospects in the sport.
“Boxing is my whole life,” he says. “It’s definitely taken over.”
Alissa, now 18, has also coached kids’ classes, is studying for a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology, and last year won the gym’s Outstanding Effort Award.
It takes a little coaxing, but she admits to wanting to get in the ring for a fully fledged fight at some point too.
“I know in the future, I’ll regret it if I don’t,” she says.
Skye and Daniel are also heavily involved at the gym, helping with admin, cleaning and, of course, ferrying the family to and from what’s become a second home.
“It’s been amazing seeing the progression, the fact they spend so much time as a family driving here and back every day, it’s incredible,” says Jesse about the Rahaleys commitment to the sport and the gym.
“I truly believe Tyson is going to take this as far as he possibly can, and Alissa can do the same if she dives straight in, because they’ve got incredible talent.
“The energy they give is the reason why I wake up and enjoy doing this every single day.”
Asked what advice they’d give to anyone thinking about trying a new sport or fitness program, the Rahaleys respond, “just give it a go”.
“We didn’t have any intention of making this a full-time hobby, and look at us now,” says Tyson.
The City of Onkaparinga runs a range of free, fun and inclusive sports programs for local young people in partnership with the Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation and Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, with sports including boxing, skateboarding and indoor soccer.
For more information, visit the council’s website.