Media release
10 April 2008
For immediate release
Australian Government helps amateur boxing club in Lae
An amateur boxing club at the University of Technology in Lae plans to knock out lazy lifestyles among staff and students, with help from the Australian Government.
Unitech Amateur Boxing Club wants to encourage members of the university community to develop a habit for regular exercise.
And that goal came one step closer to being realised today when the club received new boxing equipment under the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) – an Australian Government scheme which offers grants to grassroots sports organisations.
The equipment was handed over to club president Martin Kaustena by Major Bill Shepherd of the Australian Defence Force on behalf of the Australian Government during a ceremony at the university.
Mr Kaustena said: “This new equipment from the Australian Government is a real boost. It means we can get our club in good shape which will help us get the university’s staff and students in good shape too.
“There are few programs to address the low rate of participation in physical activity by members of the university community. With the Australian Government’s support we can now set about encouraging more people at the University of Technology to get fit and stay fit.”
The club, which already has a number of members, has struggled to achieve its goals to date because it had no boxing equipment.
Major Shepherd said: “In places like universities, people tend to be very busy and it’s easy to forget about the importance of regular exercise.
“Boxing is an excellent way to keep fit and hopefully the improvements which are being made to the Unitech Amateur Boxing Club will encourage more people from the university to give boxing a go.”
Major Shepherd said he was pleased that the club was open to both men and women as well as to members of the community living near the university.
Unitech Amateur Boxing Club received K4,435 from ASOP, which it used to purchase boxing equipment including gloves, boxing boots, punching bags, weights.
Notes to editor
Unitech Amateur Boxing Club currently has 104 members: 34 university students, 25 unemployed youths, 32 children aged 7 to 16 and 13 women and girls.
It used the funds from ASOP to purchase the following equipment: boxing gloves, boxing boots, punching bags, head gear, dumbbells, a scale, jumping ropes, weights, hand wraps, a power twister, knee supports, sports bags and a cooler for storing water.
The club describes its aims and objectives as follows:
To promote boxing in the University and the settlements and provide the opportunity for females and males to develop boxing skills in a safe controlled environment, with emphasis on teaching the techniques of the sport in a respectable and friendly social atmosphere.
To stimulate boxing and sport as a life long endeavour, whether for physical fitness, casual practice or on a competitive level.
To allow for the development of team work, discipline and self esteem through training.
To promote physical fitness, and well being through regular exercise using boxing as a tool for change.
The club asserts that membership is open to everyone regardless of age, sex, colour, nationality, association or religion.
Media Inquiries: Oliver Nombri, Public Diplomacy Officer, T: 325 9333 ext 454