Stone is boxing's solid rock

Murwillumbah Amateur Boxing Club’s Stuart Stone.

John Gass

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STUART Stone is an all-round good fella, boxing trainer, maker of men and a silent but remarkably successful recruiter for the Australian Defence Forces.

Mr Stone is a wearer of many hats in his role of Murwillumbah Amateur Boxing Club president.

The 57-year-old holds down all positions - head coach, secretary, match-maker, promoter, driver, cleaner, mentor and psychologist, a profession in which he graduated with honours from that renowned tertiary facility, the school of hard knocks.

Mr Stone's record in imparting boxing skills speaks for itself. If he has put the polish on a long list of quality boxers since he established the boxing club after he moved from Sydney to Chillingham in 1990.

Twenty-two years down the track, Mr Stone has helped transform raw, keen kids off the street into, if not champions, then men and boys capable of holding their hands up in the square ring and enjoying the thrill of matching boxing skills with their opponents.

Mr Stone has produced a long list of state titleholders as well as guiding Gopal Staples to an Australian championship in the featherweight class.

Much as he gets fulfilment out of his boxers performing with skills and sportsmanship in the ring, Mr Stone gets a bigger kick from watching his charges develop as valued members of society.

Many were heading for trouble with the law, disconnection from family and friends and perhaps even early deaths.

Mr Stone was reticent to discuss his success in getting boys off the streets and becoming valued citizens.

"Success is within each of the boys. All I do is give it a chance to come out and give it a little nudge in the right direction," he said.

Others, though, are profuse in their praise and admiration of Mr Stone's success in transforming troubled street kids into model citizens.

"There are literally scores of people around this area who, through their association with Stuart and his 'family' at the boxing club, have turned their lives around," said local businessman, Phillip Debelle.

"I've seen some remarkable transformations in Stuart's club members - he has the knack of getting the very best out of people, inside and outside the ring.

"The self discipline he instils in the members has steered at least a dozen of his boys into the defence forces where discipline is of paramount importance in fitting into the military system."

Mr Stone's reputation in helping troubled souls has resulted in parents contacting him and asking him to take their children under his wing.

"The change in these young men is to be seen to be believed.

Parents report that their children now contribute to the household, making their beds, tidying rooms, washing up, mowing the lawn - showing respect to their loved ones, " Mr Debelle said

One of those young men who has benefited significantly by his association with Mr Stone and the club is 23-year-old Cruso Bower.

"This time last year I was at my lowest - no job, no money and little self respect," Mr Bower said.

"Stuart was my rock throughout a tough period of my life and he never once failed me.

"This place is like a family home and Stuart made sure I stayed in the family by paying my membership and affiliation fees and kept encouraging me to keep going with the boxing and life in general.

"A few months ago I got myself a job with Aussie Build 300 at South Murwillumbah, my boxing training is spot on and Stuart has me fighting on his next promotion at Condong Bowls Club in March."

Another happy family member is one of the club's most promising boxers, 15-year-old Jake Simkins.

"Uncle Stuart - that's what we young guys call him - is a terrific father figure to us, he's also the best fight trainer in the business. I've just learned so much from him about handling myself in the ring and outside it too," Jake said.

Jake's enthusiasm for boxing has rubbed off on fellow students at Wollumbin High and now about a dozen of them accompany him to the gym where they too benefit in fitness and self discipline.

And according to Mr Stone, that is the cornerstone to creating a decent human being.