In 1987 Ed Kastrzewski had a vision to introduce young men of Toowoomba to the art of Olympic Weightlifting. With the help of Robert Bronson, Brian Walse and his two sons Chris and Paul, they formed the Toowoomba Weightlifting Club.

Their training venue was at the back of a chicken takeaway shop in Ruthven Street. There were many distractions for the lads with the smell of cooked chicken wafting through theor training area and chasing the weights due to an unlevel training area.

In 1988, the club hosted its first competition at the PCYC. In 1990, Greg Hobl joined the club and it was decided that the club would become affiliated with the Queensland Weightlifting Association. The first official meeting was held in June 1990.

In our first stocktake, the club had possesion of:

• 20 kg set of rubbers
• 10 kg set of rubbers
• 20 kg Eleiko Bar & Collars
• Lifting platform
• Set of squat racks
• and a metal tin and lock

QWA kindly had equipped us with:

• 15 kg set of rubbers
• 10 kg set of metals
• 5 kg set of metals
• 1.25 kg set of metals

Greg assisted with:

• 10 kg set of metals

and Ed assisted with:

• 20 kg set of rubbers
• 10 kg set of rubbers
• 20 kg set of metals
• 10 kg set of metals
• 5 kg set of metals
• Buffalo bar and collars

In 1991 the Toowoomba Weightlifting Association moved into their new premises at Mount Lofty campus of TSHS where it is still located today. Over the past 20 years we have nurtured a number of Australian Representatives, and many Queensland Representatives.

Australian Representatives

• Matt Dusra
• Melissa Bethune
• Greg Hobl (As a lifter and coach)
• Davina Hughes

Queensland Representatives

• Matt Dusra
• Melissa Bethune
• Greg Hobl (As a lifter and coach)
• Davina Hughes
• Bowen Stuart
• George Mylne
• Billy Chong Nee
• Melinda Janke
• Kyle Woodlock
• Kurt Woodlock
• David Hockins
• Darryl Hockins