Wynnum Manly Physie is sending 46 girls from its Wynnum, Manly, Capalaba and Thorneside locations to perform in Sydney as the Australian sports movement, Physical Culture, celebrates 125 years since its inception.
The Wynnum Manly women will join 2000 performers to showcase their unique sport at the Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney for the BJP 125 Year Spectacular on on June 24.
Local performers include Aliciaand Emalee Bond, Isabella and Donna Grills, Kerry and Sophie Leader, Maya Harrison, Sarah Clacy, Sam Lindsay, Chantelle and Isabelle Sullivan, Nicole and Kayla Cadman, Sienna Burke, Shenae Salm, Emma Mossop, Cheyanne Kauri and Holly Meese.
The sport of physical culture has a motto of empowering girls for life and is a fusion of dance and sport for girls and women, from ages three to 73.
Managing Director of Physical Culture Jackie Rawlings,said thousands of volunteers had put in work over 125 years to create such an important legacy for the country.
“Physie aims to empower girls and we do that in a number of ways. We prioritise the development of self-esteem in our students. We teach them to have a positive relationship with their bodies and help students blossom with confidence and self-assurance,” she said.
The sport’s origins are in Hobart in 1892,when a Danish man from an athletic family decided to teach Australians what Scandinavians were doing to stay fit in mind and body.
Through the decades the activity has evolved to incorporate yoga moves, contemporary movement and a focus on girls and women, where initially it was a mixed sport.
The activity continues to grow with new clubs increasing in the last five years by 30 per cent.
“The reason we think physie has withstood the test of the time is the supportive and nurturing community and the fact that generations of women can participate and compete together. It is not uncommon for grandmothers, mothers, daughters and grand-daughters to be members of the same club and share their involvement,” Ms Rawlings said.
To find a club: http://physicalculture.com.au/find-a-club.
