Edmond and Sally Kopiec say they have no plans to give up running the Penrith Academy of Fencing – that’s despite their combined age of 179-years-old.
The happily married couple of 62 years acquired the Jamisontown business more than four decades ago from local entrepreneur Dr Stephen Treloar, who wanted to offload it to pursue other interests.
“Penrith Academy of Fencing initially started in High Street 50 years ago by Dr Stephen Treloar before we got involved,” 89-year-old Sally told the Weekender.
“We first stumbled across it because our son saw an article with the headline ‘Zorro’ – now what 10-year-old boy doesn’t want to be Zorro? So, that’s how we began.”
Since collecting the keys from Dr Treloar, the Kopiecs put all their time and energy into creating the successful local business they still run today.
Despite facing several challenges over the years, the duo became well-renowned coaches in the sport, with Sally rising all the way to National coach for Paralympic and Wheelchair Fencing.
“When I started in fencing, I was in my 40s, which meant that it was difficult for me to compete at competitions because there was nobody else in my age group,” Sally, who was born in England, said.
“I said to Stephen, ‘Going into competitions is sheer hell for me because I’m the oldest one there and they are all kids – who do I fence?’. Stephen said, ‘Go into coaching’. So, I became a Master of Arms – I was the first Master of Arms in NSW.”
As a woman, Sally found it hard to fit in with her male counterparts, and fencers were often “forced” to be coached by her.
“After two years of university study, I still wasn’t accepted by the men because they didn’t think women should coach in this country, so people were forced to work with me,” said Sally, who says sexism still exists in the sport today.
“After a lot of hard work and persistence, I became the National coach for Wheelchair Fencing and I took athletes to the 2000 Paralympics.
“I had to get them into the top 16 in the world to qualify.
“I took two fencers to number 11 and 12 in the world in the five years that I was training them.”
That wasn’t Sally’s only success story in the sport, with she and her husband – 90-year-old French-born Edmond – producing countless able-bodied and wheelchair fencers in juniors, intermediate and masters categories.
On a weekly basis, they still coach beginners to advanced fencers from their Regentville Road facility, as well as dozens of high school students throughout the week. Sally said fencing, and coaching the next generation, will always be a major part of their lives.
“I don’t know what we’d do without it,” she admitted.
“It’s part of our life. None of us get paid. None of our coaches take any pay. We all do it for the love.”
Now one of the largest and longest running fencing academies in NSW, Penrith Academy of Fencing currently has 77 members, but the Kopiecs are hoping more people sign up so they can cover increasing rent and electricity costs.
“I still coach,” Sally proudly said.
“I teach all the beginners from my desk. There’s a theory and practical side to fencing. I first teach them the history of the sport and then all the rules, before my husband and the other coaches teach them the practical.”
It’s well-known in the sport that fencing is described as ‘chess on the move’ and, if that’s the case, Edmond and Sally Kopiec are definitely the sport’s King and Queen.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.