Richmond Boxing Club (Leo Berry's Gym)

Leo Berry's Gym - Richmond Boxing Club is a Richmond icon and has been a valuable base for underprivileged and disadvantaged youth in the area for many years. Leo Berry, a boxing trainer and former boxer of over 50 fights, commenced operating Berry’s Gym from the premises formerly located at the rear of the Richmond Baths (currently the Richmond Recreation Centre) in Gleadell Street, Richmond Victoria.

From 1954 – 1987 Leo Berry’s Gym operated as a not-for-profit community facility and provided boxing and weight training to local school groups, community groups, sporting organisations and members of the general public within the Richmond and surrounding communities.

In particular, Leo Berry’s Gym provided training facilities for teenagers and disadvantaged youth from the Richmond community, including the neighbouring housing commission precincts. Youth from the neighbouring Richmond Technical School and athletes, Sporting groups and organisations including Richmond Football Club (then coached by Tommy Hafey).
Leo Berry relocated the Gym operations to the current site (formerly the PE and assembly hall of the Richmond Technical School). The current site is owned by the State of Victoria and has been licensed to the Richmond

Boxing Club following initial negotiations undertaken by David Galbally QC who had been a regular user of Berry’s Gym over many years in the past. Most recently, tenure of the licence has been strongly supported and lobbied by the Honourable Richard Wynne MP, State Member for Richmond.

Leo Berry, with assistance from his sons Brad and Jason Berry and other volunteers, continued to provide boxing and weight training to an increasing variety of individuals, groups and organisations within Richmond and surrounding communities. In particular, youth from the Richmond Technical School, Richmond High School, athletes, sporting groups and organisations including professional and amateur footballers and football clubs (during the off seasons) during the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s.

Leo Berry’s Richmond Boxing Gym continues to operate as a not-for-profit community facility and provides boxing and weight training to local school groups, community groups, sporting organisations and individuals, and the general public within Richmond and surrounding communities.

It is registered as a non-profit organisation.

Leo Berry (now aged 86 years) manages the Gym and has the support of volunteers to assist with training and supervising of the participants and youth from the Richmond community, including the neighbouring housing commission precincts. Youth from schools like Lynall Hall Community School. West Papuan refugees from the Richmond community, athletes and sporting groups as well as the general public (both male and female) within Richmond and surrounding communities.

In accordance with Leo Berry’s underlying philosophy, teenagers and disadvantaged youth are not required to pay any training fees for boxing and fitness training or general use of Berry’s Gym.

Given Leo Berry’s Gym - Richmond Boxing Club is a not-for-profit community facility, all donations received from the above individuals and sporting groups are used to keep the Gym fully operational (eg. payment of insurance cover, electricity, gas, maintenance of boxing/fitness equipment, cleaning supplies, consumables and general maintenance etc.).


DISCLAIMER
Whilst Leo Berry’s Gym - Richmond Boxing Club endeavours to maintain the currency and accuracy of information published by way of social media, the information is subject to change. It is advisable that users ascertain the currency of information prior to use. Opinions expressed are those of the contributor. Leo Berry’s Gym - Richmond Boxing Club accepts no liability for the content, and disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage, which may arise from the information, contained on its social media sites.

Links to external websites and other social media sites are provided as a convenience to users. Such sites and associated content are not under the control of the Leo Berry’s Gym - Richmond Boxing Club. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of that website, service or social media site by Leo Berry’s Gym - Richmond Boxing Club. Leo Berry’s Gym - Richmond Boxing Club is not responsible for the content or reliability of links, or for any loss or inconvenience arising from their use.

Leo Berry’s Gym - Richmond Boxing Club reserves the right to permanently remove unsuitable or inaccurate content from its social media sites and accepts no liability for any loss or damage caused by, or in connection with, such removal.