Narooma boxing tradition has a new hero in the form of 66-year-old Ken White who recently brought back gold from the Masters Games in Adelaide.
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He competed in the Over 61 category of the 81-91kg division beating his opponent Francis Romano.
White’s accomplishment comes just as the PCYC Far South Coast plans to introduce boxing lessons at the Narooma Sports and Leisure Centre.
The retired Tilba farmer started boxing 18 months ago with the local boxing club under the guidance of Narooma police officer Scott Wharfe, who said he hardly missed a training session, training through the pain of a knee replacement.
“He has an extraordinary attitude and we really admire what he has accomplished,” Wharf said.
“He should be a great inspiration to the youth, and people a third of his age wouldn’t be as fit.”
Ken said he heard about the local boxing club in the Narooma News and decided to give it a go. He now enjoyed the fitness aspect and wanted to help train others.
“I want to thank the guys who put in the effort to push me all the way through each training session,” he said.
The PCYC after some delays now finally plans to introduce boxing lessons and its new director Gary Traynor is determined to have classes running by the end of the year.
Together with PCYC youth officer Greg Curry, he is already offering boxing for fitness and this will now be stepped up with the involvement of long standing coaches including Scott Wharf, Steve Spears and the “godfather”of Narooma boxing Mark Zielinski.
Ken White also plans on being involved and the club has a new transportable boxing ring donated by the Narooma Sporting and Services Club.
Traynor said parents could be assured that PCYC boxing classes were of the highest standard, with current amateur NSW boxing coach Joel Keegan in charge of the program.
The sport and fitness offerings and programs at the PCYC Far South Coast were now really increasing, with kick boxing at Moruya, Kung Fu at Bega and more planned in other towns.
In Narooma at the sports and leisure centre, in addition to boxing, there was social basketball and indoor Futsal soccer.
“If the flags are flying out in front, stop in to see what’s happening,” Traynor said.
He also said the club was always looks for interested parents and volunteers, with the latest happenings published on its Facebook page.
