Governor Visits Sandys 360 Facility
His Excellency Sir Richard Gozney, Governor of Bermuda paid a courtesy visit to the Sandys 360 facility on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. This was Sir Richardʼs first visit to the new facility, although he mentioned that he had been following the progress of the project through the media and reports he had been receiving from individuals who had visited the facility.
Sir Richard was met by Managing Director, Dr. Melvyn Bassett; Chairman of the Sandys Secondary Board of Trustees, Mr. Travis Gilbert; Board chair, Mrs. Valerie Dill; Mr. Steven Faries and Mrs. Wonder Lynch, Board members.
As Sir Richard entered the facility he was met by a class of students from Purvis Primary School who had just completed a tour of the facility. Dr. Bassett introduced the primary students to Sir Richard who spent a few minutes conversing with them. The students were overjoyed by the unexpected meeting with the Governor.
After meeting the volunteers at the reception area, Sir Richard was taken to the 25 meter indoor pool, where he was met by Ms. Selena Mello and Mr. Victor Ruberry, members of the aquatic staff. Several people were training, including gold medal winner Mr. Paul Hollis, a double amputee who was practicing the breast stroke which won him two gold medals in the Arizona Desert Challenge Para Games in 2010. Sir Richard later mentioned that seeing him in the pool was worth a thousand words and made quite an impression on him. Mr Hollis received much of his competitive training in the facility. Having goals and this facility as he expressed last year, “gave him is life back.”
Sir Richard then toured the rest of the facility which included the locker rooms, fitness gym, pool viewing gallery and the gymnasium, which is soon to be outfitted with a new sprung wood floor, and a weight training section that was donated by the Catlin End to End Committee. The group then visited the spinning and aerobics room where dozens of classes take place each week.
Sir Richard commented on the outstanding efforts that had gone into the development of the facility, and enquired about the program offerings and the public response to date.
The Chairman, Mr. Travis Gilbert, informed His Excellency that the Board was very pleased to see so many community members taking advantage of the facility and its programs. With well in access of 300 regular adult members, and more than a hundred young people engaged in either the swim program or the after school and special camps offered. These included the new Sandys 360 Stingrays Swim Club, the Seniors water aerobics, the Masters Swimming program, holiday and special camps, and the afterschool program.
Dr. Bassett led Sir Richard and the Sandys 360 delegation to the adjoining 360 Enrichment Centre board room, were the group met over tea to discuss the organizationʼs structure, programs and the potential for future development. Dr. Bassett and his team explained the organizationʼs vision for the expansion of programs designed to support youth development, families and collaboration of community services through the 360 Centre. Several programs already underway in collaboration with a variety of service providers, include Child and Family Services, the Child Development Centre, the Adult Education Centre and the Sandys Parish Council.
The Sandys 360 delegation was thrilled to have hosted Sir Richard and were happy to have had the opportunity to provide a tour of the facility, which he felt was already impacting the lives of so many in its short life. Sir Richard expressed how impressed he was with the progress the organization has made in such a short time. He said he was very pleased to have had the opportunity to visit the center and meet several of those responsible for making the Sandys 360 dream a reality
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