Taekwondo club celebrates 30 years

PAST students and instructors joined with current members to celebrate Heathcote Taekwondo Club’s thirtieth birthday last Saturday.

Also attending was Grand Master Jack Rozinszky who founded the club as a division of the Melbourne Taekwondo Centre he started in 1963.

“I owned a property in Redcastle, and visited the area regularly,” said Rozinszky.  “It is wonderful that the club has continued for 30 years and is still going strong. I am very proud.”

The club began with a block of eight sessions, run by former instructor Paul Smith at the RSL hall.

“It proved to be so popular that we moved across to Barrack Reserve and it’s still going,” said Rozinszky.

“It is wonderful to come back and be part of the celebrations.”

Also attending was Melissa Ryan who was a medallist at state and national level in 2006, and Brendan Underhill who was part of the original club in 1994.

“I have really enjoyed coming back and seeing everyone,” said Ryan, who now lives in the Grampians.

Rozinszky said he believes the club has touched most families in Heathcote over its 30 year history.

“Everyone knows someone who has been part of the club,” he said, “and we pride ourselves in being a family club with lifelong connections.

“In this day and age, we focus a lot on life skills, self-defence and teaching students how to look after themselves.

“We teach survival skills, how to assess a situation, when to walk away or defend if necessary.”

As part of the anniversary event instructors from other divisions of the Melbourne Taekwondo Centre led a training session before students, visitors and family members took part in a sausage sizzle.

The Heathcote Taekwondo Club trains on Thursday nights at Barrack Reserve starting at 6pm and offer the first two sessions free of charge.

Anyone interested can contact instructor Wayne Ettwell on 0408 170 888.