A private benefactor has stepped in at the final hour to provide financial support to the Crookwell Barbell Club, which is pursuing volunteers to keep the club open.
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The club operated in the Memorial Oval building before the upgrade of the sporting complex, completed in 2019. Its attendees included national and state representatives, and weightlifting champions.
Its members had expected to move back into the new building on its completion, however, plans were disrupted when the Upper Lachlan Shire Council offered a commercial lease to rent the gym.
To pay a commercial lease, the club would need to increase its average revenue by at least double.
Sherryl Broderick, a member of the Barbell Club said, the benefactor would provide financial assistance to the club until it was re-established.
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It had hoped that they would be able to maintain competitive membership fees, as well as paying for insurance and equipment maintenance when it reopened.
They required about eight volunteers to hand over the management of the gym.
She said roles included communication, membership, security and equipment officers, as well as president, secretary, and treasurer. She said the work would be completed in a few hours each month.
"All the things are adaptable, we can help someone learn what to do," Mrs Broderick said.
The Barbell Club is competing to win the tender for the 138.9 square metre gym.
"For us to win the tender, we need to show community support because our tender is not a commercial basis it is what we can afford," Mrs Broderick said.
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"We need to show community support and volunteer for these roles to show the council that we want this."
She said the gym would be modelled on the way it used to operate, but there will be changes based upon new factors including, the lessor and Covid-19 restrictions.
"With support, we have two years to get on our feet and encourage greater membership," Mrs Broderick said.
Enquiries and applications can be sent to crookwellgym@gmail.com by September 30. For more information visit the Crookwell Gym Facebook page.
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