Van Diemen Fencing Club

We are dedicated to raising the profile of the fun and challenging Olympic sport of fencing in lutruwita (Tasmania). We have four AFF-accredited coaches, and Head Epee Coach Avery Holderness-Roddam gained his Oceania Fencing Confederation Epee Coach Level 2 qualification in January 2025.

 All coaches have their Registration to Work with Vulnerable People checks, AIS Community Coaching General Principles certification, and current First Aid and CPR training. Coaches Karina and Avery also have Mental Health First Aid training.

Coaching Team

Avery Holderness-Roddam (he/him) - Head Epee Coach

• OFC Epee Coach Level 2

• AFF Epee Coach Level 1

• Launched VDFC in 2011

• Coaches at all three locations

• Has ADHD, which is… ahem… a double-edged sword.

Karina Halys (she/her) - Head Foil Coach

• AFF Foil Coach Level 1

• Joined VDFC in 2011

• Coaches on Tuesdays and Saturdays

• Our prized DT for all Tasmanian fencing tournaments.

Daniel Muller (he/him) - Foil Coach

• AFF Foil Coach Level 1

• Coaches at all three sessions

• Electronics wizard

Ursula Menz (she/her) - Epee Coach

• AFF Epee Coach Level 2 & Foil Coach Level 1

• Coaches on Mondays and Saturdays

• We’re lucky to have gained Ursula when she moved to Tassie from Adelaide.

Club Highlights

• A friendly and inclusive club with members aged 12 to 94+.

• Passionate about providing a safe space for Trans and Gender Diverse individuals.

• VERY neurodivergent-positive - join the club!

• Fees and discounts are set to make fencing as accessible as possible - as long as we cover our operating expenses, we’re happy. Fencing is fabulous, and we want more people to get to experience it!

• Tournaments, camps, courses, social events, and interstate trips.

• Guest coaches include Magalie LeDu (FRA) (2011), Garnet Alexander (c. 2012), Henry de Silva (GBR) (2015), Nik Mihailescu (Vic) (2019), Naiara Aldana (ESP) (2025), Jay Mackley (Vic) (2025), Dov Spinks (SA) (2025)

Achievements & Milestones

• One OFC Epee Level 2 qualified coach.

• Three AFF-accredited referees.

• One AFF Level 2 coach (Epee)

• Four AFF Level 1 coaches; Epee (2) and Foil (3)

• VDFC fencers won every medal in the 2026 Tasmanian Fencing Association State Epee Championships

• Four members won medals at the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide in 2023, and the two members who attended the Australian Masters Games in Canberra in 2025 came home with medals too! :)

• Launched Monday sessions in North Hobart in 2023.

• Inaugural LGBTQIA+ and Women and Girls’ Learn to Fence courses in July 2021.

• Launched a second location in Blackmans Bay in 2019, and moved to Tarremah Steiner School in 2020.

• Three members won medals at national tournaments in 2018-2019.

• Members established the Tasmanian Fencing Association (TFA Inc) in 2018.

Community Engagement

• Promotion of fencing as an accessible sport for neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+SB individuals.

• Come and Try sessions at local events.

• Sessions for schools and community groups.

THE TEAM

Avery Holderness-Roddam, Founder and Head Epee Coach (AFF-accredited)

Karina Halys, Head Foil Coach (AFF-accredited), Referee (AFF-accredited)

Georgie Holderness-Roddam, Miracle worker, mascot-puppy sitter, equipment maintenance

Robert Holderness-Roddam, Fencing jacket washer

Ursula Menz, Epee Coach (AFF-Accredited) and Referee (AFF-accredited)

Daniel Muller, Foil Coach (AFF-accredited), Referee (AFF-accredited)

Tim Harvest, Referee, runs warmups and footwork

Quincy Green Carlos, Referee, runs warmups and footwork

Gale Yates VDFC artist, Referee, runs warmups and footwork

Nick Kameniar-Sandery VDFC Support

Cath Our fabulous photographer!

Finn McKenna VDFC Club logo and badge designer