A group of primary school students who only started learning aerobics this year have become the best in the state and are now heading to the national finals on the Gold Coast in August.
The year 5 and 6 girls from St Mary’s at Georges Hall took out the NSW championships of the Schoolaerobics competition last weekend and will now compete against the best in the country for the coveted title.
Countless hours before and after school as well as weekends have been spent rehearsing for the competition, which is the largest inter-school Sportaerobic and Dance competition for Primary and Secondary School Students held throughout Australia.
And while the leg warmers and leotards have become a thing of the past the high energy, precise choreography and slick moves are as popular as ever.
Piloted in Victoria in 1989 with just 23 teams, today the competition attracts over 900 teams involving more than 14,000 competitors.
Principal Monica Palmer said the whole school community was so proud of what the young girls had achieved and was now focused on raising the money needed to get to the finals.
She said seeing the whole school and parish community coming together to support them was very special.
“The whole school community is both so incredibly proud of what the girls have achieved in such a relatively short time and supportive of their bid to take out the national title,” she said.
“None of them had done aerobics before this year so it really is a remarkable achievement.
“The girls have worked so hard rehearsing before and after school as well as weekends so it’s fabulous all the hard work has paid off.
“And it is so rewarding to see the whole school community come together to help raise the money needed to get to the finals.
“Various classes are planning cake stalls, mufti days and barbecues to help raise the money.
“I am so proud not only of the girls themselves but the rest of the school who is chipping in to help.
“We are all so very excited and this shows how hard work and dedication really does pay off.”
Recently being accredited as a Newman school, they decided to enter the competition to showcase and extend those students who excel in the creative arts.
Ms Palmer said that while academics was important, competing in competitions like this gave the students the opportunity to shine in other areas.
“As a Newman school we like to nurture all talents across a range of disciplines,” she said.
“So we saw the competition as an opportunity to showcase their incredible talents and nurture that at higher levels.
“Aerobics has certainly stood the test of time and is as popular as ever judging by the numbers taking part in the competition.
“We are all super excited and can’t wait for them to compete on the Gold Coast against the best in the country.”
If you can help get the team to the Gold Coast or would like more details contact the school on 9727 0000 or [email protected]
