About Us

Blackburn Calisthenics College was established in 1963 and is celebrating 48 years in 2010. We are a Principal run club with Minna Johnson being the founder and Principal of the club for it's 48 years. Minna overseas all classes but has turned over the coaching roles to her daughters, Carol, Robyn and Sue and a group of talented coaches all trained by the club. We pride ourselves in the quality of coaching provided to our pupils and have a ratio of coaches to pupils of at least 1:5 in all classes from Tots to Juniors.

Blackburn Calisthenics College is a competitive club and generally competes at the Division 1 level. We like to introduce the Tots and Tinies gently into competitions (only entering 2 or 3 in the year) and develop a fun outlook to the experience. At the Tots/Tinies age the children do not really care about the concept of a competition and its competitive nature but get caught up in the dress-ups and the thrill of the performance. To nurture this excitement and love of performing is what we, as coaches strive for. Competitions from Sub-Juniors to Seniors take on a more formal routine but the thrill and joy of performance is always present. A great camaraderie is developed through the year as the teams work together to prepare for competitions all with the same goal of being the best they can be.

We have many people behind the scenes that assist the club in various ways. Kerri runs the srtengthening programs for the classes from Junior age where the girls spend 45 minutes at the beginning of their session working on specially designed exercises. These exercises build the girls body strength to assist with gymnastic movements and have succeeded in keeping injuries (if any) minimal. All strength classes are run in conjunction with weekly classes and are of no extra cost. Each group has a delegated Team Manager that is there to assist and inform parents of all important information and events. We also have a great band of parents, grandparents, Life Members and collegians that assist and support the club in many ways.

History

It all began when Minna Johnson moved into the rapidly developing area with her husband and commenced classes in March of 1963 when her first child, a son, was just 6 weeks old. Classes were just 2 shillings (20c) and in the first year pupils numbered approximately 26. Over the next decade the club grew rapidly to peak at numbers of around 130. With the beginners class at 40, they were forced to create a waiting list due to lack of space.

Minna originally taught all sections of the club and went on to have three more children, Carol, Robyn and Sue. Over the years the club developed competitively and the three sisters became keen calisthenics pupils, all going on to become Level 1 Coaches and gradually taking over classes from their mother. Minna is still the Principal of the club and oversees all classes each week - that's 17 hours of classes weekly along with many more endless hours of organisation, running around and book work assosciated with the club.

Hundreds of pupils and their families have passed through the club in its 48 years and have great memories and developed strong relationships. Many of the clubs original members have returned to Blackburn with their daughters and many more ex mothers and pupils still support the club in many ways. Minna has fond memories in the fun the 'Ladies Group' would have each week. In 1968 they performed Brigadoon for their Song at Carnegie competitions with Inez Ellis adjudicating. They went on to win the item but at the bottom of the crit paper Miss Inez Ellis wrote "A most enjoyable item but a little long - seven and a half minutes". The time limit was 4 minutes!

Life Members

Val Bell	Jenny Bowen	Deborah Bucello	Linda Callendar
Nancye Downie	Shelley Gosling	June Hale	Helen Hele
Beryl Kennedy	Bev Klemke	Rita Leo	Pat McKenzie
Edna McLean	Lyn Meager	Wendy Nankervis	Bronwyn Poole
Carol Protopapas	Kerri Rush	Karen Smith	Pam Venning
Jacqui Zerella