State award success for YMCA

YMCA South Australia (YMCA SA) at Fleurieu Aquatic Centre has been recognised as a leader in community recreation excellence, winning the South Australia Parks and Leisure Association (PLA) award for Best Region/Rural Contribution.

In further acknowledgement of operational excellence, the YMCA at The Parks Recreation and Sports Centre was also one of three finalists in the Community Facility of the Year award.

The PLA awards were presented during a function at Lights Community and Sports Centre in Lightsview on Wednesday, 26 August.

YMCA South Australia Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Mundy, said the PLA award acknowledged the YMCA’s commitment to positive social, environmental and economic impacts across the South Australian community.

Despite the massive challenges encountered across the past 12 months, it is rewarding to be acknowledged as having made a significant contribution to the local and regional community. It’s a fitting reward for the effort of our local staff teams whose dedication to their communities has been unwavering.

The YMCA manages the $20 million Fleurieu Aquatic Centre in partnership with the Fleurieu Regional Aquatic Centre Authority, a joint initiative of the Alexandrina Council and the City of Victor Harbor.

Highlights of Fleurieu Aquatic Centre’s innovation includes:

  • Implementation of Strength for Life aqua classes (YMCA is the largest provider of Strength for Life gym programs in regional South Australia)
  • Free hearing tests for members in partnership with Hearing Australia
  • Partnering with the Continence Foundation to deliver community workshops
  • Partnering with SAPOL to deliver Blue Light pool parties
  • Implementation of Salti-board work outs to engage a new community segment
  • Implementation of a new Mega Splash inflatable to engage youth
  • Successful accreditation with Fitness Australia
  • Partnership with local Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists to provide services to a broad range of community members

Centre attendance had risen consistently year on year and was just under 108,000 in 2019-20 - an eight per cent rise on the previous 12 months. An average of nearly 20,000 visits per month created positive benefit on the local population.

The Centre will now receive an automatic nomination for the national PLA award, which will be presented at a function in late October with the final date and venue yet to be announced.