December Newsletter:
December’s Newsletter is filled with exciting updates, athlete achievements, and major developments across the SRA community! We unveil our new Gymaware VBT system, the introduction of a VALD Forceframe due to arrive early January, release our 2025 Performance Data and share important Christmas Holiday operating hours. We celebrate standout athlete milestones, national squad selections, and pre-season progress across our partner clubs. Plus, catch up on our latest blogs featuring our new Edinburgh College partnership and Diamond Valley Youth League pre-season collaboration. Check it out below.
Welcome To The Family:
| New & Returning Athletes |
|---|
| Chloe Brooks Dalton Williams James Gao Jeremy Xu Ryleigh Collins Suliman Abdalla |
SRA News
SRA Christmas Operating Hours
SRA session times will be changing over the summer break. We’ll be closed from 25/12/25 to 1/1/26, with holiday hours resuming from early January. If you plan to train during unstaffed hours, please ensure you have organised a 24/7 access fob prior to Christmas.
View Our Dec/Jan Operational Hours Here
Introducing Velocity-Based Training at SRA
SRA is excited to introduce our new Gymaware partnership, a world-class velocity-based training system providing real-time feedback on bar speed, power, and force. Used in elite sporting environments, Gymaware enhances precision, intent, and load management. This upgrade allows us to individualise training even further and elevate athlete performance through accurate, data-driven coaching.
Keep an eye out for our Gymaware units on the gym floor with senior SRA and rehabilitation athletes.
2025 Performance Data:
Results are in for our 2025 Strength & Jump Data, check out the link below to see how you stack up against our best athletes.
View 2025 SRA Performance Data Here
VALD Force Frame
We’re also adding the VALD ForceFrame to our list of exciting new equipment at the gym. A leading isometric strength testing system. The ForceFrame measures joint-specific strength, asymmetries, and progress throughout rehab and performance programs with exceptional reliability. This technology boosts our screening capabilities and ensures athletes receive elite-level assessment, often only seen in professional high-performance environments.
3 Month Membership Winner
Congratulations to Matt Toop, winner of our 3-month SRA Membership Giveaway. Matt has been part of SRA for 5+ years and has consistently shown outstanding growth and commitment to the SRA program and culture. He consistently demonstrates our core values and has turned into a great role model for our upcoming junior athletes. Congratulations again Matt – very well deserved!
SRA “Deuce Brand” Quiz
The SRA Quiz is proudly endorsed by Deuce Brand Australia, the premium performance and lifestyle brand known for their commitment to high quality, functional apparel across the sporting community worldwide.
Each month, we randomly select 1 person who answers all the quiz questions correctly to win a pair of Deuce Brand shorts. This month, we’re also spotlighting the launch of Deuce Brand’s limited Day of the Dead collection – a bold blend of performance, comfort, and design.
Deuce Brand has also generously offered a 40% discount code exclusive to the SRA community. To redeem use SRA40 at checkout via Deuce Brand Australia.
Congratulations to last month’s winner Lily Shrimpton..
Total Sessions Leaderboard:
Male:
| Athlete Name | Total Sessions |
|---|---|
| Marc De Lulio | 20 |
| Corey Jeffs | 20 |
| Isaiah Stratford | 19 |
Female:
| Athlete Name | Total Sessions |
|---|---|
| Charlie Seivers | 23 |
| Zoe Rakogiannis | 18 |
| Jess Meldrum | 16 |
GYG Athlete of The Month:
| Athlete Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Andrew Robinson | Drewy is an athlete who joined SRA only 9 weeks ago but has already had an incredible impact on our culture and program. Sustaining a Patella Tendon rupture during the NBL1 season playing for Ballarat Miners, Drewy came to us looking for guidance. Drewy has worked diligently with SRA Physiotherapist James Elwin averaging 5+ sessions per week as he looks to make a strong return to the court. |
| Eliza Ghosn | Eliza also recently joined the SRA community after suffering an ACL injury, despite being new to the gym environment, Eliza has shown incredible persistence and consistency throughout her rehab. Her progress, confidence, and commitment has skyrocketed in a short time, and she shows up each session with purpose and an attitude ready to train. Special mention to Eliza’s Physio Simon Wigg for all the hard work he does behind the scenes to help build Eliza’s confidence in making a return to basketball. Congratulations to both GYG winners for December. |
A big thank you to Guzman y Gomez (GYG) – the Australian and internationally renowned Mexican cuisine restaurant – for proudly endorsing our “GYG Athlete of the Month” award.
Each month, we recognise two athletes who best embody SRA’s core values of Belief, Discipline, and Ownership both in and out of the gym. The winners can collect their GYG Gift Voucher from the gym when they’re next in.
To learn more visit the following link
Session Milestones:
| 100 Session Club | 200/300 Session Club | 500 Session Club |
|---|---|---|
| Tahlee Farrel Rachel Quirk Annaliese Driscoll |
200 sessions Isiah Stratford Corey Burgess 300 sessions Arjun Randhawa |
500 sessions Kate Moorhen |
Be on the lookout for an email with your award if you find your name on the lists above.
Athlete News:
| Event | Sporting News |
|---|---|
| Australian Boomers Representation | Congratulations to SRA Athlete Angus Glover on his selection to the Australian Boomers squad for their November FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers against New Zealand. Angus was a standout for the Boomers across their FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign and has really left a statement on the world stage |
| Kilsyth NBL1 Women | A big shoutout to the Kilsyth NBL1 Women, who have been putting in outstanding work across their pre-season strength & conditioning block. The girls have really bought into our training program, attending 3+ gym sessions per week, working on their speed each Saturday at the Athletics track, completing 2+ on court skills sessions per week along with their regular team training. A massive shoutout to Coach Emilee Harmon who has been driving these incredible standards as we head into the 2026 season. |
| Other Club Programss | In other news, our long term Senior Program at the Knox Raiders NBL1 Women and Montrose FC are also quietly going about their business. An intense pre Christmas block has seen all athletes set themselves up for an exciting 2026.Keep an eye out for our program summaries arriving soon. |
| National Performance Program | Well done to SRA Athlete Jada Hill on her selection into the Basketball Victoria National Performance Program, an incredible achievement and a clear reflection of the dedication she shows every week in the gym. |
| Volleyball Australia Nationals Camp | Congratulations to SRA Athlete Maia Reynolds on her selection for Volleyball Australia’s National Training Camp, an exciting opportunity reserved for the country’s top emerging talent, we are excited to see where Maia can keep taking her volleyball. |
Blogs:
| Blog | Summary |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh College Basketball Academy Partnership | SRA is excited to partner with Edinburgh College to elevate their Basketball Academy in 2026. The program will deliver a complete high-performance pathway combining technical skills, athletic development, leadership, injury management, and academic support. With added S&C, rehab services, workshops, and guidance from world-class coaches, the Academy will set a new standard for developing strong, resilient student-athletes. |
| Diamond Valley Youth League – Pre-Season Partnership | SRA is proud to partner with Diamond Valley’s Youth League Men’s and Women’s programs for the 2025 pre-season. The partnership delivers team-specific strength, speed, and injury-prevention programs, weekly coaching support, and full access to the SRA Training App. Together, SRA and DV aim to develop resilient, high-character athletes while building the physical foundations needed for a successful and professional pre-season. |
Athlete Interviews:
| Athlete Name | Overview |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Lawton | With the recent announcement of Jonathan Lawton returning to Ringwood NBL1 Men’s program this season, we thought now would be a great time to revisit our athlete interview with Jonathan as he prepares his body for his 4th season in Australia. |
Directors Summary
As we head into the Christmas period and bring another massive year to a close, I want to take a moment to thank every athlete, parent, coach, and partner who has been part of our journey in 2025. This year has seen incredible growth across our community from new club partnerships, to national squad selections, to the day-to-day wins that take place on our gym floor.
December has been a reminder of what makes SRA special. We’ve welcomed new athletes into the family, seen huge milestones reached by long-standing members, while celebrating achievements across basketball, volleyball, and performance pathways. Our GYG Athletes of the Month, Andrew Robinson and Eliza Ghosn, are perfect examples of the belief, discipline, and ownership we value across our program.
As we look ahead to 2026, we’re raising the bar once again. The arrival of our Gymaware velocity-based training system and the VALD ForceFrame marks a major step forward in our high-performance capabilities. This will transform how we coach, assess, and individualise your training experience.
To our athletes and families, enjoy the break, recharge, and spend time with the people who matter most. We’ll be closing from 25/12 to 1/1, so if you plan to train during the holiday period, please ensure your 24/7 access fob is sorted prior to Christmas.
Thank you for making 2025 a landmark year for our community. Rest up, stay moving, and get ready because 2026 is shaping up to be our biggest and most exciting year yet.
Have a safe and happy Christmas
Shaun Atkins
Director – SRA Sports Therapy
“Dreams > Actions > Results”
The SRA Team