Mates ditch makeshift gym as facility reopens

WEEKS of exercising in Gerard Parr’s dining room are at an end for the 71-year-old and his mate Richard Shaw.

WEEKS of exercising in Gerard Parr's dining room are at an end for the 71-year-old and his mate Richard Shaw, with the reopening of integratedliving's Toowoomba Wellness Centre yesterday.

Better known as Rick and Gerry, the two regular gym-goers set up a makeshift gym in Gerry's dining room when COVID-19 restrictions forced the closure of their favourite workout space.

But the two friends were back at it at the Toowoomba Wellness Centre on West St yesterday.

"It certainly was great (to be back)," Gerry said.

"We first joined the Wellness Centre in September 2019 when Rick was diagnosed with cancer.

"I had been driving him to chemo and we both decided we needed a bit of extra motivation to keep us going.

"We joined up together and had been going twice weekly until coronavirus hit.''

Gerry, who has fibromyalgia and type two diabetes, said the regular gym workouts had made him and Rick feel a lot healthier.

He said the social aspect was also a big thing for both men.

"We enjoy meeting new people and having a chat," he said.

"We often have a coffee there before or after our session. The amenities at the centre are great."

After being forced to close their wellness centres in March, integratedliving was able to reopen some facilities yesterday.

Integratedliving CEO Catherine Daley said the company was excited to slowly reopen their centres over the next few months.

The Toowoomba Wellness Centre is located at 300 West St, Kearneys Spring.