Profiles - Staff
Coaches within the club are often retired gymnasts or gymnasts who are still competition but at a senior level. Five Dock Gymnastics supports coaches by helping them to achieve recognised coaching qualifications. Coaches are encouraged to achieve, or be working to achieve, Level 1 coaching accreditations. All senior coaches have a valid first aid certificate.
Gymnastic Coordinator
Kate Peninton
Kate has been a member of FDLC Gymnastics since the centre first opened in 1991. Kate begun in the Recreation program and moved through the competitive levels program before becoming a WAG Level 1 Coach and WAG/MAG Judge and giving it all up to land in the Gymnastics Coordinator role in 2001. Kate occasionally coaches classes and loves her role at the centre.
Assistant Gymnastics Coordinator
Nat has been competing for FDLC Gymnastics for many years and has been working here since 2009.
Five Dock Gymnastic Coaches
Senior Coaches
Henryk Czubala – WAG Coach
Henryk is a Level 2 WAG Coach.
Henryk has been a gymnastics coach for over 30 years. In that time he has also been involved in many clubs within NSW and has gymnasts compete at regional, state and national levels with many of these gymnasts placing at these events. Henryk has been a coach at FDLC since March 2011.
Lauren Hannaford – WAG Coach
Lauren has also been a long running member starting at the centre in the International Elite program in 1991. Lauren went on to compete for FDLC in elite before the program was disbanded and Lauren moved to State Sports Centre, until returning to FDLC to compete under the National Program. Lauren went on to become the National Vault Champion in 2001 & 2002 and runner up in 2003. Lauren holds her Level 1 WAG Accreditation.
Olivia Bouhamdan – WAG Coach
Olivia started in our club early in 2010 and begun our International Development Program at our centre and has increased the program since its beginning. Olivia was once an International gymnast herself and still maintains her splts! Olivia is a Level 2 WAG Judge and Level 1 WAG Judge.
Charl Jacobs – MAG Coach
Charl begun his career as a gymnast in New Zealand and due to injury was forced to retire. He trains our MAG program with levels ranging from pre levels through to senior levels and are extremely pleased to have his experience and knowledge of the sport within our club. You may see Charl train at our Adult Gymnastics Classes on Parallel Bars (an apparatus he has definately not lost his skills on!) Charl has been a coach at FDLC since 2009.
Narelle Jay – WAG/MAG Coach
Narelle started with the centre over 5 years ago and begun teaching our WAG levels and introduced our State Stream Program to our club with has now tripled in size. She is currently coaching our junior boys levels with Charl. Narelle has completed her Level 1 WAG and MAG Accreditation and holds a Level 1 WAG Judge Accreditation.
