1920's Emmanuel
Calisthenics Inc. was formed exact date
unknown. (Can anyone help here?) Mrs
Colgrave from the Bosworth Physical Culture
College conducted classes. During this
time, the Fairthorn family had 3 girls & 2
boys attending
– one year all receiving an award in their
particular section! What an achievement!
The
Club entered competitions, run by the YMCA,
Try Society, GFS & Bosworth, winning many
trophies, shields & aggregates. These
aggregate trophies & shields decorated the
Emmanuel Hall. (Does anybody know their
location now?) The pianist was Mr Ray
Bailey. Committee members were Mrs Mustard,
Betts, Palmer, Jorgenson, Lewis & Russell.
Mrs Russell’s daughter & grand daughter Joan
& Bronwyn Lloyd are still active today in
Calisthenics!
1937
When Mrs. Colgrave retired, the class was
taken over by Miss Dix for 12 months and
then Miss Muriel Dillon. The girls and the
class went to bigger and better things under
her excellent tuition.
1940
Class closed. Night activities were
prevented with 'blackout' restrictions in
force during the 2nd World War.
1944
past
pupil Joan Wright (nee Betts) was invited to
reopen Emmanuel with pianists Mrs Flora
Young & Mrs Tetley. Teams competed in the
Bosworth Competitions, run by Miss Vera
Hopton at Fitzroy Town Hall. There were 2
sections in each age group: Open & Novice.
Teams then performed again to hear the
Competition results at the Wirths Circus
(National Art Gallery site)! The 1st
Annual Display was held with Jeanette
Schreck performing as a Tiny!
Mrs
Anne Jackson (now Mrs Anne Martin) then
became the coach, followed by Emmanuel past
pupil Maureen Connelly. Maureen went on to
become a well loved Adjudicator, then
President of Calisthenics Victoria Inc (CVI)
in the mid 1990’s when she employed
Emmanuel’s Donna Gabriel as the first
Calisthenic Development Officer.
Mrs
Joy Smith then coached until the birth of
her first child when Mrs Wright returned to
Emmanuel for another 10 years. Joy Smith,
now a past Secretary of CVI has been
actively involved in the Victorian State
Team – since its inception in 1988 – still
currently Team Manager!
1977
Mrs Annette Upstill (nee Jackson) became
coach of all sections except Seniors,
coached by Donna Gabriel. In 1979, Donna
took over the Intermediate Section & Robynne
Porter coached the younger Sections for 2
years before Annette returned for another
2.
1983
Donna’s sister Joanne Gabriel became the
Junior Sections’ Coach after many successful
years coaching at Assumption Calisthenics.
Together Joanne & Donna took the club
through to Championship & Division 1
Grades.
1984
Donna & Joanne inaugurate the “Gabriel
Perpetual Trophy” – awarded to the
best club person.
1990
as the Inters ate dinner in Ballarat the
night before the big RSS Competition – a
message was received to say that our
magnificent pianist & friend for over 25
years, Mrs. Nellie Eaton, had passed
away. The next week the Senior Team
dedicated their big day to her, culminating
in a “Turn Back Time” Spec. 32 women danced
to Nellie’s last recording – made only weeks
earlier. We brought the house down, winning
a Senior Championship 2nd prize!
To
honour this truly wonderful woman who had
such a genuine love of children, music &
Calisthenics, Emmanuel now presents the
“Nellie Eaton Award” each year to
a younger Team member with outstanding
potential.
1994
Emmanuel’s 50th Post-war
Annual Display celebrated with a
Presentation Concert & Reunion Party.
1997
Record 100+ registrations, produced our
first Concert program/Yearbook & unveiled a
Life Members Board. Master
Calisthenics for participants age
35+ was introduced through a Sport & Rec,
VicHealth & Active for Life Grant. The
program ran successfully for many years,
then as Masters Re-Charge, a CVI
initiative, coached by past pupils Kristen
Skinner & Liz Carroll.
