Kyabram fitness guru Russell Jarrett hasn’t had much to cheer about this year, so his present role is a welcome relief.
The boss of Kyabram’s Infinity Health Club recently landed the job as strength and conditioning coach of National Women’s Basketball League side Bendigo Spirit.
It is not a role unfamiliar for Jarrett who spent six years from 2009 to 2015 in the same gig with the Australian Women’s Cricket squad.
‘‘That would have to be my most satisfying job I’ve done in 30 years in this game, but doing what I’m doing at Bendigo Spirit is also very rewarding, particularly in the current circumstances,” Jarrett said.
‘‘My responsibility in the role is entirely about the physical preparation and physical recovery of the squad members.’’
At the moment Jarrett is running five daily sessions a week with Bendigo Spirit squad members in Bendigo.
But from next Monday the Bendigo Spirit squad will relocate to Brisbane to undertake two weeks’ quarantine in preparation for a condensed four-week national competition season which will comprise 14 games in 30 days.
‘‘I’ve got to stick around here (Kyabram) and won’t be going to Brisbane, but my assistant, whom I’ll have regular contact with, will be looking after them up there,’’ Jarrett said.
Jarrett has been a strength and fitness professional coach for 30 years, starting in the role initially with St Kilda Football Club.
He has had a similar role with the all-conquering Kyabram Football Club in recent years.
A local boy, Jarrett returned to Kyabram in 2010 with wife Tara and a young family and bought the former Kyabram squash courts centre which he has transformed into Kyabram Infinity Health Club.
Like all gymnasiums and health and wellbeing outlets in Victoria, Jarrett's business has copped the full brunt of COVID-19 restrictions.
‘‘I’ve only been open for one month in the last seven months, so it’s been very tough going I can tell you,’’ Jarrett, who normally employs up to three full-time and seven part-time workers, said.
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