WELCOME! - Dec 2010 Update.

Hello :)
Time for the December Update!

I now have enough people to hold the first adult Bronze Certificate Epee Course in February 2011.
If you are interested, or have younger people inerested, please e-mail the club and I will send you details. We have classes designed for several age ranges.

The club launch is in mid February, I'm calling the venue to book the date this week.

Completely unrelated, Scullduggery Fencing Club (run by Mark Scully) in Launceston has invited all fencers to compete at their tournament this Sat Dec. 18th.  President of the TUFC, Isaac Laredo and I are going to travel North to compete. Next year there will be more opportunities for clubs to meet and compete in friendly competitions and in the State Champs.

If you are intrsted to see what fencing is like at a National level, check out http://www.ausfencing.org/, they have a list of state orgs. and links and current news.

Bed time for me now :)

Another update when exact dates for courses are organised.

Cheers,
Avril Holderness-Roddam,
President, Van Diemen Fencing Club.

Update for Nov. 2010.

Time for an update

I have been receiving quite a few e-mails from people interested in fencing for themselves or their children. If you find the club through this blog, I would love it if you could let me know in the e-mail so I can see which marketing tools are working best.

The main questions have been about prices and classes.

From mid to late February 2011 we will be running Bronze Certificate Epee Courses for various age groups.  These will run over eight weeks. Adults Courses will cost $100 for the eight weeks (this includes equipment use) and on completion, students will be qualified to compete at clubs and in State tournaments.

We will have several age groups for kids and we are still planning these. The lessons will be shorter for the younger age groups and will be around $85. We are discussing maybe doing it differently for kids, and having colour ribbons to work their way through. So once they learn the very basics, for example, they would get a red ribbon, once they learnt certain drills and moves, they would earn the next ribbon up. This approach is used in Britain and is very popular with the young students.

I am also in the process of approaching schools about th possibility of offering fencing as a sport in 2011.

So there we are :) 

Also, the Celebrate Clarence Expo is possibly going to be held on February 27th 2011 (it was cancelled earlier this year) so we are looking forward to having our stall there!
________
P.S. We are also putting flyers for the club in bags at a Santa Photography centre in the city. This will hopefully lead to, at least awareness of the sport and at best more students :)

New Club Logo!



I am very pleased to announce that we have a club logo, designed by Rex Smeal (rexsmealart@gmail.com).
It will be featured on our neswletter, t-shirts (in the future) and promotional products and documents.

FENCING IN TASMANIA

With three clubs currently, Fencing in Tasmania is about to expand with a fourth fencing club, Van Diemen Fencing Club, opening in early 2011. Fencing in Tasmania until now has concentrated on children and younger adults. In 2011, fencing in Tasmania is going to change, with the Van Diemen Fencing Club provding programs for Seniors, dsadvantages youth and people with disabilities.

With old grudges between the North and South pushed aside, fencing in Tasmania will also become more exciting with Tasmanian fencing tournaments planned around the state. The first being on November 13th at Oatlands. It has been organised by the Tasmania University Fencing Club. E-mail van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com for more info.

Tasmanian epee fencers Mark Scully, Anthony Pisano and Avril Holderness-Roddam are planning to attend 3-4 National Open Fencing Tournaments in 2011. They are currently seeking sponsorship.

In summary, Fencing in Tasmania is about to enter an exciting time. So why not join in?! :)

Cheers,
Avril Holderness-Roddam, Tasmanian Fencer and Coach.

Van Diemen Fencing Club stall at the Celebrate Clarence Expo, October 31st

The club has been offered a space at the Celebrate Clarence Expo to be held on October 31^st at Kangaroo Bay.

We will have a display including leaflets about upcoming fencing programs, and some fencing gear for people to look at and hold. Maybe a little demo in the form of videos? Still in the planning stages right now though.

In other news, separately from Van Diemen Fencing Club, I (Avril) will be opening Van Diemen Fencing Supplies.
I have found a supplier who will give huge discounts on fencing equipment which will make it much cheaper for Tasmanian fencers who choose to purchase gear through me.  (Of course mainland suppliers are welcome to purchase equipment from me too). E-mail me for a copy of the catalog: van.diemen.fencing.supplies@gmail.com

So I hope to see YOU at the Celebrate Clarence Expo!

I leave you with proof that you are NEVER too young or too old to start fencing:

   

Programs planned for 2011.

As well as Bronze Certificate Epee courses designed for children of various age groups and adults, and 'Tiny Tots Fencing Fun' which will be a parent and child play-group style session once a week, we are organizing programs out in the community for people with disabilities, disadvantaged youth and also lessons at seniors homes.

More information to come.

WELCOME!

Hello,

My name is Avril Roddam and I welcome you to this blog.

The club will be opening in early 2011 and will be located in Hobart - Tasmania - Australia.
Updates will be posted here to let you know what progress is being made.
If you wish to have fencing lessons next year, please contact the club by e-mail: van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com

Best wishes,
DVFC President and Epee Coach,
Avril Holderness-Roddam.