How it All Started…By Robert Burton
In 2020 when covid struck ,I was managing Indigenous Boxer Tc Priestley who was being trained by Chalky Rice from Moree and International boxing trainer Mark Pitts. The whole thing started by the need to find suitable facilities for Chalky train TC and a group of local youth who had been training with him during his Australian title campaign.
Tc Priestley called me one day asking if I could get him a punching bag to hang up in his garage so he could continue training with Chalky because all other options had dried up due to covid.
I then contacted Chalky (Colin Rice) to see if he could find an old shed or garage we could have cheap so we could put a couple of bags and continue during covid. A week later Chalky had secured the magnificent space in Greenbar Road.
When I saw the photos of this space I Robert realized we had an opportunity to do a bit better than a few punching bags in an old shed! That set the ball rolling!
Within a few weeks I had managed to secure sufficient sponsorship and a group of volunteers to set up the Gwydir Youth Development Association inc. 200527 to operate the Gym.
Having been involved in gyms for the past 30 years, and having some understanding of the socio/economic situation in Moree, it was apparent that we may be able , in some small way, to address the need for a community facility in Moree to help with some of the issues with disadvantaged youth .
As I was racing around in Sydney getting donated equipment and buying as little as possible Chalky and his group were in Moree preparing the premises.
Approximately 6 weeks after that first phone call in 2020, with the help of former world champion boxer Sakio Bika I towed a large, borrowed, trailer from Sydney to Moree and handed over to Chalky’s crew to set up the Gym.
From then on The gym has been run day to day by Chalky and his team of local Moree volunteers.
The gym was privately funded from its inception in 2020 until early 2025 when we won 2 NSW state government grants that allowed us to purchase some gym equipment and a second hand vehicle to help transporting the youth to and from Chalky’s Boxing Gym.
The Gym is to run as a community fitness & Boxing gym, that is open to everyone, irrespective of their ability to pay for training. Thereby providing opportunities for personal development that so often comes through the training and mentoring provided.
From here we would like to develop other training/mentoring programs to support the local community.
Awards
Since its inception in 2020 Chalky’s Boxing Gym has received numerous awards, including a NSW State Legislative Assemble Commendation in 2020 and several N.A.D.O.C . awards for community Service.
Current programs in operation at the Gym other than the Boxing/fitness & Fighters classes are: -
Drop off & pick up local kids to enable them to attend the gym & get home safely in all weather conditions and to get to school on time after morning training sessions.
Training/Boxing Competition trip to Sydney/Newcastle etc. where small groups of young people can be exposed to world-class gym facilities & mentored by experienced coaches.
Youth mentoring programs conducted at the Gym premises which include training sessions, classroom style personal development sessions etc.
Gwydir Youth Development Association Inc.
Gwydir Youth Development Association inc.2000527 is a not-for-profit association incorporated in N.S.W.
The Association (G.Y.D.A) operates Chalky’s Gym and both are run solely by volunteers.
GWYDIR Management Committee:
Robert Burton – First Officer
Colin (Chalky) Rice coach/Youth mentor
Toutai Hala – Secretary (Chartered Accountant)
Mark Pitts – Rugby coach
TC Priestley – Youth Mentor
Contact: - Rob Burton Ph 0416010046 Colin Rice Ph 0419200138
GWYDIR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INC. 2000527