In 2015 arborist Ben Abeleven moved to Helensburgh and bought the Fitness Centre on Cemetery Road. The same year Charlie Truscott, a professional performer with a passion for coaching young people, returned to Wollongong after studying at California’s International Del Arte School of Physical Theatre.
Charlie met Ben when she took on a Circus WOW class in Helensburgh.
“I came back from clown school in America and I started teaching on a random Thursday night,” she said.
As Charlie drove into town, she noticed a fresh sign for Helensburgh Fitness Centre.
“I remember looking at that sign, and going, ‘Whoever has taken over is a bit of a mover and shaker’.
“Then one night he came into the class, like this kind of slightly awkward, buff, blond, curly-haired guy holding a bunch of papers with a bunch of middle-aged women in leotards hanging upside-down on silks.
“Ben’s used to working with blokes on a site, you know, and then he comes in and he’s like, ‘I just want to give a survey to everybody’.
“I saw him and I didn’t know if I believed in love at first sight, but at that moment I did.
“He didn’t even say anything and I just felt like the floor gave away and I’ve never felt anything like that in my life. It was so strong that I actually left my fiancé and cancelled my wedding.
“Nine months later, I invited Ben to come to the Falls Festival. And he asked me to be his girlfriend.
“Two weeks later we were married at the festival. It just happened really fast.”
Charlie bought a dress from a garage sale, a shirt for Ben and flowers from Woolworths.
“There was a hairdresser next to the tent that did my hair. I did my make-up on a milk crate. And I never felt so beautiful in my life. We found a celebrant at the festival, there was a band there. It was like there was a wedding waiting to happen, it was really quite a magic time.”
Seven years on, Charlie and Ben have two young daughters, Aphyre and Dottie. Years of hard work have paid off and the couple are committed to building a healthy, active community in Helensburgh – for their family and all others.
Read more about Burgh owner Ben Abeleven's plans for 2023 in Fit for the Future and Hub for Helensburgh
