National Calisthenics Championships

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:25): I have recently returned from supporting the South Australian state team at the Australian Calisthenics Federation 27^th National Calisthenic Championships in Queensland. Held at the Gold Coast Arts Centre from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 July, this is the elite competition for calisthenics exponents from all over Australia.

Total participation numbers ebb and flow and, at the moment, South Australia has a vast number of tinies and sub-juniors, which augurs well for our sport in the coming years. As state and national patron, I have a very difficult role but, as with all lovers of calisthenics, a great performance will always be encouraged and applauded.

Teams from Victoria, Western Australia, ACT and South Australia were competing with soloists from all of those states as well as New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland. Despite there being no senior team this year, there was nevertheless intense and close competition. Adjudicators Cheryle Ablett, Rhonda Just, Barbara Nickless and Gaye Parker, with the help of their trusty writers, worked diligently to separate the teams in a very even competition.

Each year, the inventiveness and creativity of coaches seems to reach new heights. Great attention is paid to sets, props and lighting and the artistic components of choreography that go into each discipline: figure march, rods, clubs, free exercises, aesthetics and cali revue, with song and dance and character and folk part of the sub-junior and junior competitions this year.

I am able to report to the house that Victoria won both the sub-junior and junior areas. The Victorian coach for sub-juniors was Stefanie Bond, assisted by Kylie German, and the junior coach was Sammi Lukey, ably assisted by Genine McCorkell.

South Australia came second in both categories. The South Australian sub-juniors were coached by Nikki Ianunzio with assistant coach, Robyn Middleton. The juniors section was coached by Keron White with assistant coach, Phillipa White.

South Australia was able to win the intermediate section from Western Australia in a very close competition, with Victoria third. We were coached by Melissa Daysh with assistant coach, Sarah Stephenson. The Western Australian coach, who did a fantastic job, was Andrea Phillips assisted by Nerida Smith, and the Victorians' intermediate coach was Jodie Russell assisted by Jessica Mellor.

Our congratulations go to all teams and competitors. It is a big logistical task to move each team of about 20 girls interstate with all the props and costumes made by the great mums and teams of seamstresses. We could not put on a competition at this elite level without the wonderful backstage help of the mostly dads. The South Australian helpers were led by Calisthenic Association of South Australia president John Maguire, ably assisted by George, Paul and Chris. Each team is helped by chaperones, and many family and extended family members and friends travel to the comps to support their loved ones and have a feast of all that is celebrated by our sport.

The Australian Calisthenics Federation is ably led by Liz Kratzel and executive officer Kerry Fullarton, with Kerryn Waddell, Anita Roser, Meredith Phillis, Diane Winterling, Michelle Turner, Lynne Hayward and Tara Sullivan filling out the committee of management. Our thanks go to the Calisthenics Association of Queensland president Michelle Humphreys and her committee for giving us such a well-run and enjoyable nationals. I am grateful for the warm welcome that I always receive there, and the assistance of Carolyn Fortune.

Part of the calisthenics nationals are the recognition of service awards. This year, we saw 10-year awards given to Bev Daysh, Melissa Daysh, Joy Putman, George Ianunzio, Lisa Barnes and Kayla Kearney, along with some amazing awards, I think one was for 25 years, to some of the people in Victoria. It just goes to show you how many valued people are involved in our wonderful sport.

The exciting thing for all of us is that calisthenics people from all over Australia will gather here in Adelaide for the 28^th national competitions which will be held in the Festival Theatre in Adelaide between 6 and 9 July next year 2016. I ask all members to put that date in your calendars now, and to come along and see why calisthenics is such a beloved sport and has been part of South Australia's tradition for so many years for people of all ages.

Masters calisthenics is now a fast-growing part of our activities on the calisthenics calendar, with women of very senior ages staying fit and dynamic while providing great entertainment. I urge all members to connect with the calisthenic clubs in their electorates—there are dozens and dozens of clubs all over the state in regional and city areas—and visit the Royalty Theatre in Angas Street, the home of calisthenics here in South Australia, to watch this amazing sport and items on show.

At the end of every year, the calisthenics year is rounded out in September/October with the competitions at the state level, and it is something not to be missed. If you have not seen calisthenics for a long time, do yourself a favour, go along and watch the competition.