PCYC Taree head gymnastics coach Penny Schubert was named Gymnastics NSW Gymnastics For All Coach of the Year at a dinner event in Sydney last Saturday. 

She was recognised for her involvement with events, courses, conferences and lectures within the Gymnastics For All initiative.

“It was pretty exciting,” Penny said. 

“I guess my involvement within Gymnastics NSW last year got me nominated and put me on top.”

Penny was up against three other coaches from across NSW for the award. 

Club manager Justin Hayes and fellow gymnastics coach Sarah Hayes attended the awards function to support Penny.

Justin said Penny is an asset to the centre.

“She’s had a big impact on this place,” he said.

“Being involved right from the Kindy system to now, Penny has a real sense of the locals and their abilities.”

Some of the key Gymnastics For All events in 2018 were the Festival of Gymnastics and Team Gym State Championships in November.

Penny participated in both as an athlete and coach. 

The Freestyle Gymnastics State Championships was also highly successful for the Taree contingent. 

“We had a few athletes in that which I helped out with,” Penny said. 

Penny started with gymnastics at the age of three with the Kindy Gym program.

From there she dabbled in acrobatic and women’s artistic gymnastics. 

“But my passion lies within performance gymnastics and Gymnastics For All, being able to share the floor and stage with a team of amazing athletes and being able to perform all over the State, the country and the world,” Penny said.

She worked her way through the ranks to become head gymnastics coach at the centre.

“I oversee all the coaches and make sure the classes are running, make sure the coaches are running their lessons correctly but most of all it’s about pulling them together,” Penny said.

“They’re a great bunch of coaches to work with.”

It’s a big year ahead for the PCYC Taree Gymaroos as they gear up to compete at the World Gymnaestrada in Dornbirn, Austria later this year. 

“That’s the largest sporting event in the world in terms of participants. In that respect it’s bigger than the Olympics.

“It’s a week full of performance gymnastics, the world showing what they believe gymnastics is to them,” Penny said.

It was in the same place 12 years ago Penny participated in her first Gymnaestrada.

“We’re staying in the same Australian training camp, going to the same event, I believe we’re staying in the same school with the Australian team which is really exciting, a bit of deja vu.

“I’m excited to take the team over with Sarah and Justin Hayes.

“There’s lots of kids on the team who have never done this before,” Penny said.

The Gymaroos have been selected as one of the top 20 performance teams worldwide for the International Federation of Gymnastics gala evenings.

“That’s kind of the pinnacle of our gymnastics which is pretty exciting, it’s a big deal for us,” Penny said.