Champions of the West: Serving country and community and one man’s quest to put footy in the West on the map
HE already serves his country in the Australian Army. Now Johnathan Dang is extending his commitment to the community with free bootcamp training sessions.
NSW
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HE already serves his country in the Australian Army.
Now Johnathan Dang is extending his commitment to the community with free bootcamp training sessions.
Three times a week 30-year-old Dang and a group of mates put a growing crowd through their fitness paces at a Parramatta park.
The group, which includes Christopher Webb, Kevin Le and Jeery Heng, were nominated by loyal follower Joanne Nguyen in the sport category of The Telegraph and NewsLocal’s Champions of the West awards, a grants competition for the Fair Go for the West campaign that consists of 13 categories, each offering a $10,000 grant.
“There are so many people out there who want to exercise but either don’t know how to get started or lack the money or confidence to go to a gym,” Dang, of Parramatta, said.
“Offering the sessions for free is a good thing because it removes those barriers.
“The people who come to our sessions now are like a big family. They don’t compete against each other, they motivate each other and they have a common goal to be better versions of themselves.
“And that’s enough for me, money can’t buy that.”
Dang came up with the idea for the free sessions three months ago and enlisted his mates to help run sessions at Robin Thomas Reserve.
Their hour-long outdoor classes soon grew and they have a regular following of around 30 at each session.
The group started a Facebook page, Parramatta Free Bootcamp, which chronicles the achievements of the regulars. Dang tells of one woman who started with them three months ago.
She suffered from depression and anxiety, which she controlled with prescription drugs. She has lost 15kg and is off her medication.
Before joining the army last year, Dang was a personal trainer for seven years. He now combines his talents, putting clients through army drills, body weight resistance training and short bursts of intense cardio workouts called Tabata.
If the group wins the $10,000 in their category, they will spend the money on buying equipment.
“I’m not tempted to start charging,” Dang said.
“I make my living working for the Defence Force, these training sessions are simply about giving back.’’
A FOOTBALL tournament which will attract up to 30,000 spectators to Fairfield later this year will put Western Sydney on the map globally.
Australian organiser, Nick Sharma, recently won the bid for the Pacific World Cup to be held in November and attended by teams 10 from around the world.
Mr Sharma is nominated in the sporting category of The Telegraph and NewsLocal’s Champions of the West awards – a grants competition for the Fair Go for the West campaign that consists of 13 categories, each offering a $10,000 grant
He said the upcoming sporting event would be a wonderful opportunity for Western Sydney.
“We chose the Western Suburbs because football is so big there,” he said. “We believe Australia is a land of opportunity and we want kids to live a healthy life and not get into bad habits.
“The best way to do it was via sports.”
Held annually, the five-day event will bring worldwide attention to Western Sydney with the USA, Canada, Fiji and New Zealand sending teams to compete in the all-ages event..
“Not only will it showcase the wonderful facilities, but it will also bring in much needed revenue through accommodation, shops, transport and hospitality,” Mr Sharma said.
Despite receiving offers from local businesses, Mr Sharma said there are still not enough funds to launch the event. If he wins the $10,000 in his category, he said the prize money will go towards holding and promoting the tournament.
CHAMPIONS Of The West is a celebration of all that is great in Western Sydney.
It is an opportunity to recognise the west is full of talent, ingenuity, creativity and determination.
Champions Of The West comprises a grants competition for 12 awards, each boasting a $10,000 prize for individuals, groups and businesses.
An additional grant of $10,000 will be awarded to the ‘Champion of Champions’ winner, encouraging people to get behind their peers who are nominated finalists.
What kind of ideas are we looking for? Anything that will be of benefit to the community and requires a grant to help the project come to life, such as:
Community – facility upgrades, infrastructure, new works or equipment;
Environment – restoration and protection, volunteer program funding;
Indigenous – arts, up-skilling, scholarships;
Sport – equipment, uniforms, training, health improvements;
Small business – new products or services;
Education – primary, secondary, day care, special needs, TAFE;
Arts – skills development, new work, residencies;
Employment – training, job placement, social entrepreneurship;
Young Achiever – scholarships, workshops;
Health – aged care, clinical funding, training;
Tourism – attractions, historical/cultural sites, interpretive programs; and
Manufacturing/Innovation – training/development, new products or services.
Who can apply for a grant? Anyone that lives or works in Western Sydney as determined by the Council boundaries referenced in the Champions Of The West Guidelines. Applicants under the age of 18 must obtain prior permission of their legal parent or guardian.
Can I refer an organisation or business? You can make a referral on behalf of an organisation or business. Please complete the form below to the best of your knowledge and we will contact the nominated business or organisation if we require further information.
How long do I have to apply? Applications can be submitted between Sunday 13 April 2014 and Sunday 11 May 2014.
1.Download the Champions Of The West Guidelines and Terms And Conditions to ensure you are eligible to apply.
2.Download and review News Corp’s Privacy Policy prior to applying online
3.Submit your online application using the form below. Please read the questions on the form prior to starting to ensure you have the necessary documents to submit your application.
The program will culminate in an event where winners will be announced and grants awarded, on Tuesday 3 June 2014. If you or someone you know are doing something worthwhile for your community from Western Sydney, apply today.
TELL US WHY YOU LOVE YOUR AREA
Do you want to get in touch? Email us here:
Champions of the West: championsofthewest@news.com.au
Fair Go For The West: fair.gowest@news.com.au
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