Hard Rock Gym owners Ros and Glenn Stewart, pictured with Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke, were forced to close their doors temporarily after a hailstorm caused their ceiling to collapse. They have now reopened. Photo: Steph Cooke, Facebook.
Almost 12 months after a hailstorm ripped through Harden, two business owners have celebrated the reopening of a new-look facility.
A spokesperson for Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said businesses were still recovering from the natural disaster that caused significant damage to commercial and residential buildings last February.
Among them were Hard Rock Gym owners Glenn and Ros Stewart, who were forced to close their doors temporarily after the February storm caused their ceiling to collapse and water to seep into the floor.
During the incident, 40 millimetres of hail and 70 millimetres of rain were recorded in less than an hour, causing widespread damage to the tight-knit town.
Residents woke at 6 am to rain and hail battering their houses with such force it smashed roofs and windows and gouged facades, leaving a thick white trail of ice the town drainage system couldn’t cope with.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, one of the storms delivered around 48 mm of rain and hail in half an hour.
The Insurance Council of Australia said more than 500 insurance claims for damage were lodged, with the incident later declared a natural disaster.
The cleanup in Harden last February. Photo: File.
Despite their circumstances, the Stewarts continued to facilitate group classes at the Harden Mechanics Institute, while rebuilding their beloved gym.
On Sunday (11 January), they welcomed the community back to their Station Street location to see the new-look facility and state-of-the-art equipment available to new and returning members.
“We were completely overwhelmed by the number of people that turned out to see the space, and celebrate all of the work that has gone into getting things back up and running,” Ms Stewart said.
“We just feel like we’re home, and it’s nice to not have anything hanging over our heads so we can focus on running new classes and making the most of the space.”
Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke attended the function to congratulate the couple on their resilience and their commitment to rebuilding an important community asset.
“Having seen the state of the building just after the storm passed, it is difficult to believe this is the same building less than a year later,” Ms Cooke said.
“Ros and Glenn have done an extraordinary job to restore this facility for the local community, and I want to thank them for their tireless effort to keep the community active and socially connected while also completing this amazing restoration.”
