Not only did the club manage to qualify a team, the Bendigo senior division team was runner-up at the prestigious Calisthenics competition.

The senior division team was the first the Bendigo club had sent to the Ballarat competition since the early 1930s.

Senior team member and club coach Zita Waldron-Brown said qualifying a team for the South Street Competition was a great achievement for the Bendigo club.

“The last record we can find of the club going to South Street was in the 1930s,” she said.

“We haven’t been able to go because we have always competed in division eight, nine or ten and you need to be in division seven to gain entry.

“We struggled for seniors for a while, but then five years ago we decided as a club that we wanted to get there and we have worked our way up the divisions.”

The Bendigo team placed first in March and Free Exercise at the Ballarat competition, and also came in second place in the Rods and Aesthetics routines.

The Bendigo Calisthenics senior team was made up of 17 women aged 17 to 40 years of age, all with varying backgrounds in the sport.

“We have all come from quite diverse backgrounds, with some of the group coming through the junior ranks at the club and other girls having comepted at championship clubs in Melbourne,” Ms Waldron-Brown said.

“The potential has always been there, it was just about getting the group together.”

The Bendigo Calisthenics Club will hold its annual concert on November 6 and invites all past participants and members to attend.

The club will also be holding three “‘come and try” weeks at the club.

For more information, phone Zita Waldron-Brown on 5444 4983.