Published on 12 April 2022
$1 million for Hub Gymnastics
Hub Gymnastics will receive a $1 million funding boost from the federal government, Senator for South Australia Andrew McLachlan CSC announced today.
Senator McLachlan said the funding will help Hub Gymnastics expand its facilities and support its growing membership.
“Hub Gymnastics is one of South Australia’s best sporting clubs catering for around 700 gymnasts across all age groups and genders in Adelaide’s southern suburbs,” Senator McLachlan said.
“With a waitlist of children wishing to join the club, this additional funding will allow Hub Gymnastics to continue to grow their membership and offer the very best future for gymnastics in the south.
“The club was initially established by volunteers in 1985 and its membership has grown in recent years with increased interest in the sport. I am very proud to have advocated on behalf of its staff, volunteers and members.
“It is essential that our youth across Kingston were able to access the very best sport and recreation facilities.
“The fantastic numbers at Hub Gymnastics are a testament to the club’s dedicated staff and volunteers and the community atmosphere they have created.
“During my many visits to the club, I have been extremely impressed by the dedication and talent of the athletes and believe that Australia’s next gymnastics gold medallist could come from Hub Gymnastics.
“We are proud to be partnering with the City of Onkaparinga who will deliver this project.”
City of Onkaparinga Acting Mayor Simon McMahon said Hub Gymnastics is a southern success story, and its rapid growth is testament to the fantastic opportunities it has provided the region’s budding gymnastic stars for decades.
"This investment into City of Onkaparinga’s Paul Murray Recreation Centre opens a new chapter for the club, helping to deliver on its transformational vision and ensure more of our communities are active and healthy," Acting Mayor McMahon said.
"A big thank you to Senator Andrew McLachlan and the federal government for this significant funding contribution, and to the Hub Gymnastics family for its determination and passion for this project.
"City of Onkaparinga remains committed to working with the club and funding partners to grow gymnastics in the south and deliver this much-needed facility for the community."
Hub Gymnastics, Head Coach, Emma Murray thanked Senator McLachlan and the federal government for the $1 million funding boost.
"I am so pleased to see the wonderful sport that is gymnastics recognised and supported and in particular the Hub Gymnastics Club,” Ms Murray said.
“It's such a great and inclusive sport to teach children key movement patterns and develop perseverance and determination. I am so proud of our club and how we have grown from strength to strength all whilst maintaining our vision of keeping gymnastics affordable and inclusive and assisting in creating good humans.
“The future is so bright, and the expansion of our facility is going to allow us to offer programs to more families each week as well as provide more employment opportunities in the City of Onkaparinga.”
About the proposed upgrade
Hub Gymnastics' proposal to expand the Paul Murray Recreation Centre includes an expansion of the main gym hall, provision of a new kindergym hall, expansion and increased ceiling height of the community room to cater for aerobics gymnastics and increase flexibility for other users, development of a mezzanine level adjacent the gym hall for spectator viewing, and upgrades to the reception/canteen, and office facilities to improve efficiency and flexibility of use.
This design brief addresses club needs, while also focusing on achieving a floor plan which promotes flexibility, functionality, accessibility and shared use. These are critical drivers for council, to future-proof the building and its potential use by other community users.
With expanded facilities the club has the potential to grow to around 1000 members.
The new State Labor Government committed $3 million in the lead-up to the recent South Australian election.
City of Onkaparinga recently finalised a Federal Election Advocacy plan that seeks a further $2.3 million to realise the club’s full vision for transformation of the facility. The federal government has now committed $1 million.
The planned facility upgrade can be scaled, or delivered in stages depending on the amount of funding available.