MAG Nationals Canberra
Team
Congratulations to our 9 MAG athletes
represented DGC in Canberra at the MAG National
Clubs Competition in December 2008. DGC gymnasts
competed successfully in Levels 3, 4 and 6.
Enlargement
Team members (from
back to front, left to right):
Sergei, Kal, Rhys, Mitchell, Chris, Kurt, Matt, Tyson,
Dakota, Zac, Yanni.
Matt Barnes-Oake, our MAG Coach,
Winner of the 2008 Darwin Citizen of the Year
Award
Matt was nominated for
this Local Government award in recognition
of his outstanding service to DGC.
Matt
and Chief Minister, Paul Henderson
at the Awards
Matt is a
former Level 10 Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
(MAG) gymnast who retired from all facets of
the sport many years ago. In or about March 2006
Matt learned that DGC was having difficulties
providing coaches for its gymnasts. Matt not
only responded to our request to resume gymnastic
coaching but insisted that he would not be paid
for it.
For nearly two years now
Matt has coached a minimum of 12 hours per
week but more usually about 15 hours per
week. Doing the sums, it is clear to see
that Matt contributed in the vicinity of
600 volunteer hours to DGC in 2007 alone.
This is remarkable when you consider that
Matt has a full time, highly labour intensive
job where he works 6, sometimes 7 days, per
week. He finishes work and turns up at the
gym almost every day around 4 pm to coach.
Matt is a talented coach who has an innovative
style of training and his gymnastic knowledge
is apparent when watching him coach. Matt has
established a remarkable rapport with his gymnasts
and they clearly look up to him and see him as
a role model.
In June 2007 Matt was nominated for and received
the Gymnastics Northern Territory Volunteer of
the Year Award. Matt was highly deserving of
this award in recognition of his dedication and
devotion to the sport of gymnastics.
DGC is utterly genuine when it says that the club
would be in a wholly different situation were
it not for the extensive hours Matt has put in
on behalf of the club and its gymnasts and we
look forward to a lengthy association with him.
It is clear that DGC is indebted to this talented
coach and believe he is a highly deserving recipient
of the 2008 Citizen of the Year Award in recognition
of his dedication and devotion to the sport of
gymnastics.
Congratulations Matt!!! |
DGC's Bushfire Fundraising
Darwin Gymnastic
Club members have been busy settling into
training for the year and fundraising for
the Victorian Bushfire
Appeal.
Over
the last couple of weeks fundraising through
the sale of ice cups and cakes as well as generous
donations from member families, DGC has raised $1,511.85!
DGC gymnasts handing over
the bucket of money to Mr Milhinhos
and his grandson. Gymnasts from left
are: Aaron, Darcy, Rhys, Hayden, Annie,
Isabelle and Jessica at the back.
Some of the members handed over
the funds to Mr Tony Milhinhos, of Nightcliff
Shopping Centre, who agreed to match these funds
with his dollar for dollar offer. As the money was handed
over to Mr Milhinhos he said that “the
children have made a great effort to raise so
much money, but even if someone can only afford
a few cents it makes me feel good. The
tragedy of the bushfire has brought the people
of Australia together in a wonderful way – a
lot of good has come out of something very bad.”
DGC Coaching Team
From left to Right: Rhys, Tianna, Mitchell, Jamaya,
Mr Sergei, Sammy,
Sharon, Prue, Bernie.
Absent:
Matt, Nicole, Danielle, Caitlyn
Parent Handbook
Look out for our new Parent
Handbook, which is available from the Office.
It provides information about the club, its
rules and assists with the selection of classes.
Please take time to familiarise
yourself with the Parents’ Code of Behaviour,
and discuss the Gymnasts’ Code of Behaviour
with your child.
Fund raisers needed
Time to time our non-profit club
requires volunteers to assist in sausage sizzles,
raffles and other fund raising activities. Funds
raised are made available for end of year trophies,
equipment or other identified purposes.
Please contact
us if you can support
us in our endeavour to improve our club thus
the environment that your children can enjoy
developing in.
Are you interested in having a say in the running
of your Club?
DGC
is run by a Management Committee that is made
up of parents, like YOU. If you have 2 hours
to volunteer per month, please let us know by
emailing us at contact@darwingymnastic.org.au
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