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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-11-17 Daily Xml
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Calisthenics 2020

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:14): COVID has had a dramatic impact on sports in general, and I would like to particularly acknowledge the work of calisthenics clubs and the remarkable work they have done to adapt their year around restrictions that have been put in place to keep all of us safe. The calisthenics year sees mostly girls work on their cali skills under the direction of highly capable and creative coaches, crafting them into routines developed to use those skills and encourage artistry, poise, confidence, discipline and teamwork.

Calisthenics is one of the most well-organised sports I have ever seen. The administrators of the sport have developed protocols for every aspect, from health and safety of participants to a well-defined program for adjudicators and club officials. Cali teams travel and compete all over Australia normally and the national competitions, held on a rotational basis throughout Australia, are an amazing event.

Every MP should make themselves familiar with the skills and artistry of calisthenics and, as well as supporting mainstream sports, look at the minority sports that have so much to offer. Calisthenics is probably second only to netball in terms of girls' mass participation but has a much lower profile. Theatre make-up and costuming are part of the overall picture needed for a stage presentation in what is a very creative performance showcasing many skills.

Much has been said over the years about costumes in calisthenics and the ubiquitous sequin. Costuming of the 21st century has moved on significantly, and I remember well the display of costumes from the beginning of calisthenics here in Adelaide, which started nearly 100 years ago. On the night of the gala dinner, there was a great display of memorabilia and tributes to people such as Esme Dobson, who made a great impact on me and my then co-CASA patron many years ago, our former colleague Jane Lomax-Smith. Esme was a great character who knew almost every girl who competed for decades, by both their birth and married names, and all their families and children they had, and she maintained a great interest in all things calisthenics until her death.

I have known many wonderful people in my time as an MP, and the very first cheque I presented in 1997 was to the Ridgehaven Calisthenics Club, still in existence today under principal Tracey Emes. Ridgehaven had a great group of parents in those days and still does. Tracey has been involved with the club for many years and she is a teacher par excellence. She is inspiring to all around her and is supported by all in the club. Her daughters Britt and Kaylee are both coaches and performers and her husband, Darren, and extended family have all been involved in calisthenics. Tracey is a remarkable leader.

On Saturday night, I attended Ridgehaven's end of year presentation night, and the depth of talent at the club meant there was also an afternoon tea event for the tinies—our smallest competitors. The gala evening dinner was followed by a disco dance for the juniors, subies, inters and seniors. After all, calisthenics is only a step removed from dance sport, a discipline, along with cheerleading and aerobics, that has become popular in recent years.

Ridgehaven also caters for masters competitors, as many of the girls go on with cali well into their adult lives, returning to the sport after they have had their own families for health, recreation and competition with the friends they have made and stayed in touch with since their earliest days in the sport.

Lessons for calisthenics have had to be delivered by Zoom this year as restrictions began to kick in. The amount of work involved in instructing and evaluating each girl's individual performance cannot be understated and the fact that clubs such as Ridgehaven had successful years in 2020 is a real testament to the club coaches and administrators, not to mention the girls themselves and their families who support them through tuition and performances.

As far as performances are concerned, I must mention here my own granddaughter, Jade, has become a tiny at the Happy Valley club this year. This is another club I can say takes great care of each and every child while providing a great atmosphere for families.

Performance is part of why cali is such a popular sport. During the darkest days this year, one of the senior Ridgehaven coaches, Brooke Brown, took it upon herself, under the banner of BB Eisteddfod, to hire space at the Adelaide Convention Centre to stage a cali and dance spectacular. This was a huge undertaking held over three days and provided clubs and individual competitors with the chance to break out of lockdown and do what they do best. It was very well supported by over 800 performers and attracted a large entry in both dance and cali sections.

Competitors came from all over metro Adelaide and regional South Australia—from Mount Gambier, Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Whyalla. The BB Eisteddfod team worked with the Convention Centre to ensure all government COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations were met—no mean feat—while still making sure it was an event that could be enjoyed by participants and spectators alike.

Appropriately spaced audiences were thrilled to get back to watching the artistry and creativity of both individual and team performers that is so closely associated with this wonderful sport. Brooke is to be congratulated on her ingenuity and tenacity in delivering on her vision. I know she would like to thank everyone who assisted: the sponsors, the donors, the businesses who supported the event in many ways and the volunteers who gave freely of their time over the three days. Part of every cali performance is the photography and recording of performances, both of which are an integral part of improving every girl's skill levels.

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