A new year often brings resolutions, and they regularly include a fitness pledge.
So it’s fitting that a new gym in Shepparton is giving residents the opportunity to fight off unwanted pounds, or maybe even a royal.
Resolute Gym is a newer and larger version of the Shepparton Boxing Gym, which was located on Glenn St, Shepparton.
Resolute can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 4 Joseph Baldwin Place and offers a wide range of gym equipment, boxing training — including two rings for sparring — a recovery centre that includes a sauna and ice bath, group training, jiu jitsu, massage therapist and café.
“We had the Shepparton Boxing Gym, and I had that for nearly eight years,” owner Daniel Cleave said.
“We started in a smaller location in Archer St in one of my dad’s old shops he owns, and then from there, we moved to the Glenn St residence.
“I was there for five years, and then obviously, the last couple of months, we’ve been here and taking the risk.”
The father of two boys, Paxton and Preston, Mr Cleave said he and partner Jessica hadn’t set out to create a facility as big as the one they have, but the aim was to set up one of the best gyms in the state.
“I always wanted to do it. Probably not on this big of a scale, but it happened,” he said.
“I just wanted to create one of the best facilities in the north-east.”
Mr Cleave said his guiding principle was to provide an environment devoid of “ego, comparisons and competition” to allow members to “focus on self-improvement” and feel at home.
“Just generally to create someone’s second home, to feel comfortable with, and obviously to train at one of the best places around,” he said.
“I want it to be a friendly, comfortable environment where everyone can come, they don’t feel uncomfortable to train because it can be daunting as it is walking into a gym if you’re unsure.”
Mr Cleave rose to international prominence in February last year when he and his mate Curty Arthur were invited to chat with the Prince of Wales and first in line to the British Crown, Prince William, on a Zoom call.
The mates had been nominated for the call after assisting flood victims in Shepparton during the October 2022 floods.
Now, with a wry smile, Mr Cleave said members at his gym may be surprised who they bump into at the new facility.
“He (Prince William) said if he ever comes out to country Victoria he wants to pop into the gym one day,” Mr Cleave said.
“So maybe, he might come, who knows? You could do some rounds in the ring with him.”