Mooroopna’s Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy ready to rumble after devastating flooding

By Bransen Gibson

Feb 2, 2023

Ready to rumble: Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy co-owner Zedda Harrington inside the refurbished gym following the devastating floods that hit Mooroopna in October. Photo by Megan Fisher

In October the Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy at Mooroopna was underwater.

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With knee-high floodwaters from the Goulburn River inside the building, the facility looked more like a swimming pool than a gymnasium.

But this week, after three long months of hard work, the boxing gym was finally able to reopen its doors to members.

The gym held its first sessions since the flood crisis on Tuesday, with more than 30 people taking part in the afternoon and peewee classes as the gym looks to get back on its feet.

Co-owner and head coach Zedda Harrington said it was fantastic to have the gym open once again, adding it would not have been able to happen without the support of the local community.

“The reopening was brilliant,” Harrington said.

“We have always done this for the community, and to see the community back us when we are on the down side of things, it was really humbling.

“I just couldn’t be happier with the way everyone responded to us. It was a massive response.”

Inundated: Knee-high floodwaters from the Goulburn River inside the Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy in October. Photo: Supplied

When the floodwaters hit, they caused extensive damage to the gym.

The flooring was ruined, while equipment such as boxing gloves and pads were also destroyed.

Some of the equipment was able to be lifted inside the gym’s boxing ring, which thankfully survived the flooding. But even so, the water caused more than $15,000 in damage.

Harrington and fellow co-owner Helena O’Halloran said the scale of the disaster had them contemplating whether or not they would reopen the gym.

“We were questioning everything,” O’Halloran said.

“While we were getting asked when we will be back, we were thinking we have just gone through COVID ... and that was challenging enough, and now we have gone through this.

“We were questioning whether it was worth opening when you are looking at all the damage.”

Destruction: The flooding caused extensive damage to the flooring at Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy, with the total damage bill clocking in at more than $15,000. Photo: Supplied

But in the face of damage and destruction, they said one thing in particular helped them get back on their feet — the community.

“The community means everything. It is the backbone, it is what this gym is built on,” Harrington said.

“We were mentally at an all-time low at that point, and to see our members come out and help, was incredible.”

O’Halloran agreed.

“I think if you didn’t have that support, you wouldn’t reopen,” she said.

“For people to jump in and help, it was amazing. The first day of clean-up we had about 20 people in here picking up mats.

“It wasn’t an easy job, but more hands made light work and it was a lot easier with all that help.

“Everyone has really jumped behind us and is putting back in.”

The gym received support from across the community, with businesses and members all chipping in to help the gym open its doors once again.

A group of young members ran a special barbecue fundraiser at Tatura, raising $2500 that helped cover the cost of repairing the flooring.

As good as new: Months of hard work have paid off, with new flooring and equipment installed at Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy. Photo by Megan Fisher

After months of hard work, the gym is almost back to normal. New flooring has been laid, the walls have been repaired and punching bags and other equipment have been reinstalled.

With the gym back up and running, Harrington said he could work towards his goal of making it the top boxing gym in Victoria.

“The goal is to get that momentum back and get everyone back into the swing of things,” he said.

“From day dot opening this, the goal was to build the best boxing facility in Victoria, and that is what I am hell-bent on doing.

“I have travelled all over the world to Las Vegas to Floyd Mayweather’s gym and to the Wild Card Boxing Gym in LA.

“I have seen how the best of the best run their boxing gyms, I have been in this sport for many years and now I just need Mother Nature to be kind to us, the government to be nice to us and then we can really get this place up to where it should be.”

Harrington and O’Halloran thanked their amazing members, friends and family for their incredible work to help the gym reopen, as well as Jye Scott from Hard Knox Boxing for giving members a place to train while GVBA was out of action.

They also thanked local businesses Pristine Cleaning at Tatura, Freers Panel Works, Parmley Plumbing, Shepparton Denture Clinic, Murray Cleaning, Webb & Wills Construction, Slater & King Lawyers, McDonald Lawyers, ALENCO Energy, Mooroopna Hardware, Cardamone Real Estate and Jarvis Delahey Contractors.