We need to say a big THANK YOU to Fernwood Gym Shellharbour and Kel and Mahlah from The Pines. A big thanks is also needed for Rebecca, who did a fantastic job; putting the dads through their paces and keeping them happy and safe. (They will be a bit sore tomorrow!)
We love that a women's gym was creative and flexible enough to find a way to let a bunch of guys inside. They used a time when the gym would ordinarily be empty.
These dads all have a child with a disability, so they are used to being adaptive and finding a way to best include their children. That is exactly what Fernwood Gym Shellharbour did.
We walked in as the guys were finishing their hour boot camp. They were hot and sweaty and tired, but there was a lovely atmosphere in the room, and it was nice to hear them laugh.
Dexter dropped in, too. He loved the music and did some excellent sitting and balancing.
Once the guys had finished, they celebrated with some fresh gelato from The Pines. The creamy cold dessert was a great hit! The guys tried the salted caramel, vanilla, strawberry and choc chip mint gelato. It was delicious.
And then, Dexter shouted the guys to a round of beers.
This was our first Illawarra Dad's Group event, and we are so grateful to Fernwood Gym Shellharbour and Kel and Mahlah from The Pines, for their support!
Thank you!
Find Fernwood Gym Shellharbour at: 12 College Ave Shellharbour, NSW
Phone:(02) 4297 7300 Fax:(02) 4297 7102
email: [email protected]
website facebook
website facebook email: [email protected]
From their website: We use minimal processing, ensuring the taste and structural integrity of the milk is as nature intended. Every step is done on farm - from milking our cows twice a day, using a slow speed pump to transfer the milk, batch pasteursing at lower temperatures and bottling by hand. We don’t Homogenise our Milk – meaning the cream still rises to the top. By doing things on farm we can ensure you get the freshest, safest and tastiest milk available.
We use Bio-dynamic and sustainable farming practices – meaning our cows are fed on naturally grown pastures with no artificial fertilizers, nitrates or other chemicals. We use a natural biodynamic fertilizer and soil probiotic plus oversow with naturally occurring grasses such as rye and clovers, as well as strip grazing which allows our small herd to eat fresh pasture all day, every day. They also receive a small portion of sustainably grown Hay and grain to compliment their pasture based diets. Because our herd is pasture fed our milk varies with the seasons (and with what the cows are eating) meaning there will be seasonal fluctuation in taste and cream content.
Go to the Produce page of their website to find where you can buy their milk, taste their milk and gelato and for their complete list of delicious gelato flavours.
If you have an idea for a fun afternoon, to support this Dad's group, let us know.
By enjoying days like this, these dads are developing positive friendships. They all have a child with a disability, and there are very limited services available to support dads like them. By spending time with other dads with similar circumstances, they are able to support each other, when needed. This group can help to reduce their sense of loneliness and provides them with people who 'get it'. We really respect this aspect of the Dad's Group and this is the reason we want to support the group.