Background on Hutt Valley GymSports

The club was formed as Hutt Valley Gymnastics Centre in 2001 from the merger of the 5 Star Supporters Club and the Wellington Boys Gymnastics Club.  At that time we were situated in Bouverie St., Petone (on the site where Mitre 10 now exists) and had just 25 gymnasts!  The club moved to its present location in 2004 and today we have nearly 500 gymnasts coming through our doors every week!  Recently we changed our name to Hutt Valley GymSports to align ourselves with our national and regional organisations.  

Programmes are run for children of all ages and abilities from pre-school to International level.  Our members mainly reside in the Hutt Valley and Eastbourne however some do come from other parts of the greater Wellington region because of the high achieving recreational and competitive programmes we run.

The club has grown quickly and continues to attract new members and aspires to own a much larger purpose built gymnasium – a goal that is being actively pursued by the Management Committee.

The overall vision of the club is “For all gymnasts to have the opportunity to achieve their potential”.  The vision applies to every gymnast no matter what level that they participate.  Disability is no barrier to entering the club’s programmes.

We are committed to providing PlayGym programmes for early childhood development, recreational programmes for those who wish to attend gym for 1 or 2 hours a week and competitive programmes up to international elite level.  To date our highest performing gymnast gained a place in the New Zealand Commonwealth Games Team 2006 and we regularly have gymnasts who attain national 1st, 2nd or 3rd placing in their respective levels.

The Vision

“The club exists so that all gymnasts have an opportunity to reach their potential and lead fulfilling lives.”

The Mission

“To create a gymnastics environment that provides the gymnasts with quality coaching and quality programmes.”

Download our constitution here.

Key Success Factors

• Happy and enthusiastic gymnasts

• Gymnasts reaching their potential

• Gymnasts continuing to improve their skills

• Gymnasts from the club being competitive at the highest level

• Coaching staff having the resources they require

• Coaching staff developing their own skills

• Local and non-profit community groups using the gym

We currently have over 60 competitive and over 250 recreational gymnasts. Our competitive boys and girls gymnasts compete from Level 1 through to Junior Elite at regional and national competitions.  We also have had gymnasts compete in Australia and Hawaii.  Hutt Valley GymSports is recognised as one of the top clubs in Wellington and in New Zealand. 

Hutt Valley GymSports Structure

HVGS is a non-profit organisation and is run by a Management Committee of volunteers made up of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and up to five parents.  The committee provides the strategic direction for the club sets budgets and approves policies etc.  Committee members are elected at the AGM that is held in April/May each year.  

Staff

Centre Manager	Zara Struthers
Senior Coach General Gym	Reuben Cossey
Senior Coaches Competitive Gym	Michelle Woolf, Natalie Gunn, Reuben Cossey
Office Administrator	Sandra Milgate

A group of part-time coaches are also employed. 

National and Regional Structure

HVGS is affiliated to GymSports New Zealand (GSNZ) which is the national organisation that administers the gym sport codes of General Gymnastics, Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Aerobics and Trampoline.  GSNZ is itself affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) in Switzerland.

Coaches

Many of our coaches are former gymnasts of HVGS.   We encourage coaches to become professionally qualified by progressing through the education programmes provided by GSNZ and Sports and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC).

Coaches Page  

Income & Fundraising

HVGS relies on term fees to cover the majority of its costs.  Additional funding is received from community grants that are always applied for a specific item e.g. to cover a months rent or to buy a piece of equipment. 

Income is also generated from fundraising activities.  We aim to run four separate fundraisers per year.  The club’s annual Women’s Artistic Gymnastics competition and occasional Saturday morning sausage sizzles also contribute to the fundraising effort.

HVGS appreciates that some fundraising activities may not suit everyone and understands when some people choose not to participate.  In these circumstances we are happy to receive donations instead.   While participation in fundraising or the donation is not compulsory we hope that parents recognise the need for us to raise money by these methods and anticipate that all members would either participate or donate.

Parent Involvement

Parents are encouraged to become involved in the club’s activities from fundraising to joining the Management Committee or helping out at gym festivals.

Please talk to a staff member if you are interested in more information about helping out.

Committee Page  

Life Members

Dennis Sharman

At the 2004 AGM Dennis Sharman was elected Life member of the Hutt Valley GymSports.  This was in recognition of Dennis' huge efforts as president of the club and his much-appreciated contribution to Wellington Gymnastics - particularly during competitions.

Many Thanks Dennis.

Donna Hamlin

At the 2003 AGM Donna Hamlin was elected as a Life Member.

Donna was recognised for all her hard work: as a parent supporting her gymnast, her role on the Management Committee, her dedication to the club during her role as Centre Manager, her commitment to Wellington Gymnastics through the WGA, and the support that she has shown to the Hutt Valley GymSports over the years.