Torquay Rotary Fitness Trail launched in time for Christmas

The official launch of four new fitness stations on Torquay’s foreshore marks an early Christmas gift from the Torquay Rotary Club to the local community.

“With our beautiful beach as a backdrop, locals and visitors alike can now enjoy a gym work-out in the open air – in between enjoying their usual walk or jog along the Torquay Front Beach foreshore,” said Torquay Rotary Club President Lesley Shedden.

“After three years of planning and fundraising, it is a thrill to see this major Rotary project finally come to fruition to benefit our community.”

Spaced along the foreshore footpath, each of the four stations provides unique exercise functionality, offering the ability to target specific muscle groups. One station, for example, targets calves, quadriceps and thighs while another biceps, triceps, pectorals and shoulders.

Together, the Torquay Rotary Fitness Trail affords users a total body work-out. 

After much consideration the equipment chosen was ordered from A_Space, a company who Design and Manufacture in locally in Melbourne. Their “Fit for Parks” equipment meets all Australian Safety Standards, does not contain any dangerous crush points and was able to be manufactured in a special “Marine Grade” finish for added protection given our harsh coastal climate. In the past 4 years their equipment has been used in more than 200 projects all over Australia.

According to Ms Shedden, the club raised $23,000 to help fund the project and worked closely with the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee on developing and installing the new trail.

 “We are very grateful to our project sponsors – RACV, Torquay Community Enterprise and Surf Coast Medical Clinic – for their generous support and to GORCC for providing assistance with constructing the equipment on-site. Thanks also go to the members of the local community who also contributed to the project through “Bendigo Bank Communities” crowd funding platform promoted via social media, which is a new concept in fundraising for these types of community project recently rolled out by the Bendigo Bank

“On behalf of the Torquay Rotary Club, I thank all concerned in helping to make this project a reality and trust everyone will enjoy and benefit from using this new equipment,” Ms Shedden said.    

Torquay Rotary Book Fair

Hi Rotarians,

    Earlier this year I decided to sail my 9.4m Noelex 30 across to Tasmania. Originally I thought of having some of my regular crew but that was before I heard Jessica Watson talking at our Club about her solo voyage around the world. I asked if she would sign my copy of her book then I asked her how hard would it be to sail solo across Bass Strait. She was so encouraging and after a long chat I decided that it really is not so onerous.

    I read all the literature about solo sailing particularly in Australian waters and spoke to a few Noelex owners who have crossed the ditch. Ben, who moors his yacht next to mine has a 10m ketch and he has circumnavigated Tassie several times single handed. He was a great help in checking all my safety equipment.

   Almost everything is now ready for the big trip. A few things yet to sort out such as fixing a torn dodger and a bent pulpit, but most of the important stuff is ready. Boxing day is 3 weeks away, I hope I have 3 days of fair weather at that time.

    I thought it may be fun for my friends and family to be able to follow me on my 3 day quest. My ever vigilant daughter Louise told me it was not for fun but a mandatory requirement, so I have organized the following.

If you want to follow my progress there are two options.

   1-  I borrowed a GPS tracking devise which you can all log into if you like. I turned it on for a trial run yesterday during the race and was impressed by its simplicity and the information which I could download. It takes readings every 10mins and stores it in the cloud. Let me know if you have trouble looking at this.

FindmeSpot

  2-   I also have a tracking app on my iPad which is working well so far. It may not work in Bass Strait without using the Telstra towers but I have no way of checking? Anyhow, go to followmee.com and login using my details. (note "ee" in followmee)
User name = fleurieuwarrior    password = myyacht

    Have fun and please send me any feedback.

Depending on the weather we hope to sail out of Launceston about the 3rd or 4th Jan. I say "we" because Ken Beall (Canada) and his step-son Tony (completed four Sydney-Hobarts) are sailing with me. I'll also have the tracker on for the return trip.

Trevor

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