Gymnasts relocate but need equipment

Dunedin Gymnastic Academy gymnasts (from left) Charlotte Hewson (12), Abby Stevens (15) and Ella...
Dunedin Gymnastic Academy gymnasts (from left) Charlotte Hewson (12), Abby Stevens (15) and Ella Macgillvray (13) move a pad as the club shifts into its new premises in Otaki St yesterday afternoon. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Would someone lay out the welcome mat(ting) please.

The Dunedin Gymnastic Academy shifted into its new digs in Otaki St yesterday and a welcome mat would have really come in useful.

The club ended up writing off $160,000 worth of equipment when it was forced from its Willis St gym after asbestos contamination was discovered at the venue early last month.

"We're really excited about having a new facility,'' Academy president Louise Taylor said.

"The new building is excellent in terms of space and gives the club a new lease on life.''

Most of the club's safety matting at the old gym was contaminated and had to be abandoned.

The club has managed to secure some funding for a secondhand wooden sprung floor "but in terms of the other matting, until we get further funding we will be basically begging and borrowing from other clubs''.

"We have enough equipment to get our programmes going. It will be running at a bare minimum until we can purchase additional matting.''

The club hopes some funding applications will come through with positive news.

The new gym will cater for about 200 registered gymnasts and many more casual users.

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