By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
EMERALD Community Gym at Worrell Reserve has extended a helping hand to a local man with Paralympic ambitions.
The non-for-profit community gym has given free membership to Rod Watson who lost the use of his legs in 2013.
Mr Watson was riding his dirt bike in the Gembrook State Forest when he landed the wrong way coming off a jump and irreversibly damaged his spine.
He was determined to maintain his fitness despite the injury and continued to maintain a gym schedule despite now being completely paraplegic.
Mr Watson started power lifting as soon as he could after his accident to maintain some fitness and strength while he adjusted to life in a wheelchair.
In the last three years, he has competed in Australian power lifting championships, and is on his way to qualifying for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“It’s great to have the support,” Mr Watson said.
“It’s really given me a lot of drive, and I’ve been overwhelmed with community support.”
Peter Masterson, secretary of the Emerald Community Gym Inc., said the gym was proud to be helping Mr Watson to achieve his goals.
“It’s all part of our mission statement,” Mr Masterson said.
“We aim to provide services for disadvantaged community members at a significantly reduced price.”
Me Masterson said the gym had a mission to make the most of the space they used to best benefit the community.
“We use community facilities specifically to give back to the community.”
Rod said he was determined to get the results he wanted from weightlifting and cannot thank everyone enough for all the support they had given him.
