Steve Reardon, pictured with one of his gymnast daughters, Caitlin, and Delaney, is urging Casey Council for an extension at the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre.
By Kelly Yates
A DETERMINED father is helping to bring the sport of trampolining to the forefront by urging Casey Council to build an extension at the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre.
Steve Reardon, father of two gymnasts at the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre, has expressed his desperation at the lack of trampolining facilities in the hall.
Mr Reardon said the trampolining team, which has been chosen to represent Victoria at the Nationals in July, were unable to train in the gym hall due to a lack of space.
“The children get pushed into the back corner where they constantly compete for time and space with the basketball, netball and badminton teams,” he said.
Mr Reardon said the teams have to set up and pull down all of the trampolines, mats and runs which impacts on their training time. He also raised concerns about the lack of heating and cooling in the hall.
“During hot summer days, training will be cancelled and in winter, the children are prone to injuries as it can be less than 10 degrees in the hall,” he said.
“We have the talent here in Casey. But we need the facilities so we don’t lose these kids to neighbouring clubs who have better facilities.”
Coach of the trampolining team Chris Chatfield agreed that a number of the children had the talent to win national titles.
A coach at the leisure centre for over four years, he said it was very important for the children to have a proper training facility.
Mr Reardon said he couldn’t understand why trampolining wasn’t getting funding from council like local football and soccer teams.
“Are we not getting funding because it’s more of a female oriented sport?”
City of Casey manager for city living Richard Amon said current future needs of the leisure centre were being considered as part of the City of Casey Leisure Facilities and Development Plan (LFDP), which provides a strategic direction for the development of leisure facilities in Casey for the next 15 years.
He said the draft LFDP recognised limitations with the gymnastics facility in the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre and recommended the centre be upgraded.
“Council has committed funds to conduct further investigations to ensure that any future expansion of facilities occurs in a coordinated manner,” he said.
Mr Amon said the public would be invited to comment on the findings of the investigation once completed.
The manager of the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre refused to comment.
