SPORTS : BOXING
New coach on the block
ANDRE Reyes Dangaard , 39 , of Wentworthville is the Filipino-Australian community ’ s latest contribution to boxing in Australia .
By MARILIE BOMEDIANO
A gardener by trade , Dangaard holds weekly boxing classes at two western Sydney venues : the Parramatta and Auburn Police-Community Youth Clubs .
He became interested in boxing when he joined a class in Canberra Police-Citizens Youth Club in 1997 .
“ I became fascinated with with boxing because it instilled discipline , strength and resiliency in me ,” Dangaard said .
“ Growing up in the Philippines , in typical situations these were the exact and minimum traits you needed to come out and become successful .
“ You couldn ’ t be soft and sheltered .
“ You had to get up and do it for yourself , otherwise you would fall behind . “ I enjoyed the challenge . “ I think it ’ s in our blood as
Filipinos to survive from tough situations .” Dangaard ’ s day job is working as a gardener of Hills Shire Council at Baulkam Hills .
He is a native of San Juan , Rizal , in the Philipines .
SPORTS : CYCLING
FILIPINO-Australian community cyclists in Canberra at one of their fund-raising rides in the ACT and beyond .
Canberra cyclists riding for ‘ HOME ’
THE Filipino cycling community in Canberra is organising a fund-raising event to help raise muchneeded funds and awareness for HOME , a communitybased initiative that provides a loving home for twenty men and women with chronic mental illness who cannot live independently and are at risk of becoming homeless .
Cycling is not normally what one would associate the Filipino community - food and karaoke would comes to mind first .
However , there is a strong communityfirst culture among Filipino cylcists , and they resonate strongly with HOME ’ s focus on serving the most disadvantaged people in our community .
So even though their cycling priorities are predominantly social , think coffee and catching up for a yarn and you ’ re pretty much there
The cyclists are going to put ourselves to the test by riding the Centenary Trail on Saturday , April 28 , 2018 for this worthy local cause .
They are inviting the greater Canberra and Queanbeyan community to support this event by either cycling at the event and raising funds from family , friends and networks or by donating directly to HOME or by volunteering to support the riders on
the day .
This event is not a race but a chance to challenge one ’ s self , have a lot of fun , get to know like-minded cyclists in the community during the journey and , most importantly , support HOME and the people they lovingly serve .
This event is sponsored by Pushys Bike Warehouse , Rolfe BMW , Pedal Power , and more .
16 APRIL 2018 | AK NewsMagazine , Vol 8 No 7 www . kalatas . com . au