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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-09-25 Daily Xml
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Gym Assembly

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:17): Last Friday, I was extremely pleased to attend this year's gym assembly at the home of Gymnastics SA, hosted at the Marion Leisure and Fitness Centre, located in my electorate of Elder. The event celebrated Ascot Park Primary School's work in gymnastics and the exceptional talents of the Gym-JETS (Junior Elite Talent Squad). The Gym-JETS attend a gymnastic focus class at Ascot Park Primary School Reception to Year 7 Gymnastics Focus School. This program is designed to provide an environment where athletes can succeed in their chosen sport of gymnastics while pursuing their academic development.

The display celebrated the ongoing success of this program, which began in 1989 with Ascot Park Primary School as its home. It is a unique collaborative venture between the Department for Education and Child Development, Gymnastics SA and the South Australian Sports Institute. The assembly provided a showcase of the many talents and achievements of gymnasts who train as part of the Gymnastics SA High Performance Program.

An enthusiastic crowd of parents, family, friends, fellow schoolchildren and community leaders gathered to watch the amazing performance, as gymnasts ranging in age from reception through to university students flipped, tumbled and pirouetted. We saw spectacular displays on the floor, the balance beam, the rings and uneven parallel bars.

Ascot Park Primary School is situated on spacious landscaped grounds and shares the site with the SA School for Vision Impaired and Kilparrin School. The school day is based around the training schedule of the gymnasts. The students travel by bus to and from their training. All students in the Gym-JETS program attend a joint class with two teachers, being years 2 to 4 and years 5 to 7. The great success of the Gymnastic Focus School and the Gym SA partnership is evident in the success of the students, many of whom have represented not only South Australia but Australia at major international events.

In 2010, Sam Offord competed in the Delhi Commonwealth Games and achieved a gold medal. Nick Matthews, who I saw perform, is a current Gym-JET in the program and has achieved selection in the current Australian Gold Medal Team National Championships. I also witnessed the skills of Clay Stephens, who is a 2014 Youth Olympic Games finalist. The program also claims names such as Rebecca Stoyel, who won a gold medal on bars, a bronze medal on vault and was placed second all round in the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Another name of note is Jacqui Dunn, who won gold and bronze medals at the Manchester Commonwealth Games and has a movement, I am told, named after her—that is, 'mount the beam'.

To speak with parents of these young gymnasts was indeed inspiring as they told stories of their children's' commitment and the hours spent perfecting their moves. The theme of these stories is the unconditional support by parents and families and the commitment of their children as they pursue their dreams. The model that Ascot Park Primary School offers these children is second to none, as it facilitates their pursuit of gymnastics while participating in mainstream schooling.

Some parents I spoke with had specifically moved their children from their previous school to Ascot Park to facilitate the seamlessness of education with gymnastics. As one mother said, 'Gone are the days of eating dinner in the car between school and gym practice.' I am hopeful that last night many of you would have seen on the Channel 9 news the showcasing of the Ascot Park Primary School facility with the gymnastics program.

I thank year 7s Grace, Nick and Gabby who, with the guidance of their teacher, Sam Kennedy, extended to me the invitation to attend. It was a great privilege and it was with admiration that I joined the crowd gathered in support of the gymnasts. Additionally, I thank Mr Greg Cox, principal of Ascot Park Primary School; Mr Brendyn Semmens, education director of DECD; and I acknowledge the educators, the students and the parents who all work with and encourage these young athletes in the demanding sport of gymnastics.

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