Plibersek comes out fighting for Redfern ‘Mundine’ Gym

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS

It first opened in 1984 and has been a second home for the local Aboriginal community.

Almost 30 years later the Redfern Gym, also known as the Mundine Gym, will be forced to temporarily close while the Aboriginal Housing Company’s Pemulway redevelopment project gets underway.

MP for Sydney Tanya Plibersek stopped by the gym last Friday to announce that an elected Labor Government would provide the gym with $200,000 so it could keep operating while the redevelopment takes place.

Gym manager Alex Tui told City Hub that the gym was important to the local community, and that it had become increasingly popular over the years that it has been there.

“It has grown more and more popular over the years,” he said.

“More people are walking past and finding out about the gym, and popping in for a look.”

He estimated that the club’s membership was somewhere around 80 locals.

He said old faces kept showing up.

If the gym doesn’t secure funding, it will have to shut down during the redevelopment, which could be between 12 and 24 months.

“If it did close down, and it didn’t have anywhere to go to I would use that time relax – it would be a good time to check out other gyms and see how things have been going and preparing,” he told City Hub.

“When we do open the new gym, we know what to do with it we know how to survive and keeping running. The new gym will need to be a bit more professional.”

With the new gym we will be self-sustainable. We look forward to that challenge.

He said however the redevelopment goes, boxing would remain at the center of the gym.

Ms Plibersek said that the gym was a Redfern Institution that offered support to the local community and was a place where people could come together.

“The Redfern Gym provides a positive and supportive environment that changes lives.  It shouldn’t be forced to close its doors.”