You may be more familiar with her boxing name, The Beaver, from Fred Brophy’s Boxing Tent where she started boxing back in 2010.

These days Ms Neal is working in remote communities training participants in a Community Development Program to ensure their fitness for employment.

“I love my job but in my free time I volunteer to train the youth in a boxing program because there is nothing much for them to do here,” Ms Neal said.

Boxing is a key youth engagement tool, well known for its ability to increase cardiovascular fitness, promote healthy weight management through discipline and commitment to achieving personal goals.

“It’s challenging and teaches you to respect yourself and others. 

“By engaging with the kids in the communities we visit, we see the crime rate go down and school attendance go up and we encourage this to be able to participate in our program.”

The program incorporates alcohol and drug awareness; and enhances the overall positive health and wellbeing of individual young people, and ultimately benefits the entire community.

“So far we have delivered programs from Townsville up to the tip of Queensland and out west as far as Birdsville,” Neal said.

“Next stop is Doomadgee where I will be delivering youth engagement activities at Doomadgee State School everyday.

“Then off to Normanton and Burketown on the weekends,” she said.

The program runs anywhere from a two-day camp to a 10 week program. 

“It depends where we are and who hired us. We train community members from 3-years-old to 60 and up to 40 participants at a time”

Neal said the youth are her passion and our future.

“The government need to start investing in the engagement of youth to help prevent the current issues escalating even more and by giving them an outlet.

“Boxing as an outlet helped me deal with my depression so I know first hand how physical fitness can stabilise and balance your wellbeing.”