Taekwondo still on the outside

While gyms and indoor recreational facilities re-opened for fitness training last week, a Trafalgar Taekwondo school has been forced to continue its classes in an outdoor area.

Rhee International Taekwondo has been shut down since the end of March when the first COVID restrictions were imposed.

When the state government announced regional Victorians could resume indoor exercise at gyms and recreation facilities last week, instructor Dale Bertoli was pleased his members could finally return to training.

But, it wasn’t that simple.

The taekwondo club runs its sessions at the Trafalgar Community Centre, which Baw Baw Shire promptly advised was not classed as a gymnasium and therefore could not be used.

Mr Bertoli said the government announced indoor gyms and exercise could re-open provided people and space limits were met; and, non-contact sport could resume for participants under 18.

As far as he was concerned the boxes were ticked and on that basis he began the process of re-opening.

Mr Bertoli said he did not blame council because it was another example of having to interpret the guidelines.

“So much of the guidelines are inconsistent and difficult to apply in practice.

“Council has to make sense of the guidelines as well.

Pre-COVID, taekwondo training sessions were held at the community centre once a week for Trafalgar residents.

Mr Bertoli said the majority of Trafalgar members were adolescents.

As restrictions were lifted and eased on and off over the past six months, training sessions were held in a park or outside.

“They have certainly missed the training sessions.

“We tend to attract kids that lack in confidence. They are often kids who get lost in a team sport so for many of them it was the only outlet they had.

“It was great to resume in the park but not everyone is happy training in the goldfish bowl of a public park,” he said.

Under the DHHS guidelines facilities such as community services and public halls can still be used to deliver essential services such as food banks or support groups.

However community centres and public halls can be only used for outdoor recreational activities for up to 10 people.

Council said while regional gyms and fitness studios opened last week, this did not include community facilities where a hirer was running a fitness class.

Council said it was monitoring the situation and looking forward to welcoming groups back to its community spaces when restrictions ease.

Mr Bertoli said they were hopeful of locating another venue in Trafalgar where the training sessions would be permitted.