Club History

Late in 1967 Mrs Esme Dobson approached Christine Butler, a member of the Senior Ballarat Team that year, and asked her if she would be interested in helping a group of mums with daughters in a suburb called Ridgehaven. They wanted to do calisthenics but needed someone to kick start a club and coach.
Christine took on the challenge, not even knowing where Ridgehaven was!
Over the Christmas break the Messenger Newspaper “The Leader” was used to advertise the New Ridgehaven Girls Calisthenic Club.
A pianist was also sourced through advertising in the Messenger and a suitable hall found, being the Modbury Methodist Church Hall.
Classes began on the first Saturday in February, with Christine, her sister Meredith and the help of their mother, who took the enrolments and the money on the first day.
Mrs Smith the pianist arrived, with no Calisthenic experience, just a couple of Marches and a Waltz, and away they went!
Ridgehaven was a very new suburb, but very fast growing and the club took off with Junior, Sub-Junior and Babies classes being taught on Saturday mornings.
In 1968 girls competed for the first time in the CASA Competitions. They wore Black Leotards with an oval lavender cloth badge embroidered with Ridgehaven Girls Calisthenics Club.
By 1969 the Club colours were officially chosen as lavender & purple and our first club badge was struck. We entered our first Intermediate team in competitions and we had our first Junior A Grade State Team Representative,  Jenny Holland (now Jenny Mead).

   One of our girls (Marion Beales) in her lavender Ridgehaven leotard.  

The Fundraising Committee was formed to finance trophies and concerts etc and Yvonne Kuhn became the Wardrobe Mistress for the club.
The Association divided Clubs into Open and Novice sections and as we were just a new club we competed in the Novice Section.
As the club grew, Tuesday nights were negotiated with the Church and Intermediate and “Married Ladies” Senior classes were introduced. Christine taught on Tuesdays by herself but Meredith and some of the older Intermediates continued to assist on Saturday mornings.
There are fond memories of the club having 4 Junior teams and teaching Teams 3 and 4 in the Big Hall with chairs across the middle, at the SAME TIME.
Club numbers were around 140 members in 1977 but we struggled to get a competitive Senior team. The club had won the Novice & Overall Aggregates in B Grade for two years in a row, but CASA would not advance the club to A Grade because of the lack of a competitive Senior Team.
This was quite disheartening and after again winning B Grade in 1977, but being told the club would not advance to A Grade in 1978, Christine decided to retire.
Ridgehaven has always been a Teacher-Run Club with a separate Fundraising Committee, but a special committee was formed to search for a replacement coach, and Arleen Draper from the Clearview Calisthenics Club was engaged to take over the Club in 1978.
Sharon Baldwin who had been a Mum in the Senior team and a fellow state team member of Christine’s, was also engaged to coach the Babies Teams in 1978.
We are so grateful to Christine for taking on the challenge, if she hadn’t, we would not have the wonderful Club we do today.
At just 16 years of age, Miss Arleen Draper took the reigns in 1978 -  She was still competing herself and was member of the Senior Champ Team. Arleen taught all the routines with Sharyn Baldwin as her assistant.
Jeanette Harris was nominated as the Costume Coordinator in 1978 – a position she held until her resignation in 1991.
1980 saw the introduction of Babies competitions for the first time and we won the Aggregate with our competitive team. We were always extremely strong in our Babies section thanks to the wonderful coaches we had, Miss Sharyn, Miss Kym & Miss Cindy and in the 15 years that Babies were competitive in South Australia, our Babies 1’s won the Aggregate 10 times.

Miss Kym and her 1988 Winning Babies Team 

Both the Inters and Seniors also won Aggregates in 1980 and it caused great excitement for the club as this also meant that we had topped the overall B Grade section, and that we were to be promoted to A Grade the following year.
The club was also very proud of their teacher Miss Arleen in 1980 as this was the year she won the prestigious title of “Australia’s Most Graceful Girl” in Ballarat.
Now being in A Grade, the expectations were even greater. It also presented a great challenge for Miss Arleen on Senior Competition Night - because as a member of the Clearview Senior Team, she had to compete against her own Ridgehaven Seniors!
The results were pleasing at the end of our first year in A Grade with all Teams gaining placings at Competitions.
In 1982 we had our first male leaders of the Fundraising Committee with John Hutton as President and Bill Bentley as Vic-President.
This same year Shauna Uren, Norma Hawker & Lisa Vettese joined the teaching team – and Lisa came back 23 years later in 2005 to coach in the Senior Section and several Graceful Girls.
Miss Arleen married Ian Mount in 1982, and the Ridgehaven girls formed a guard of honour at their Wedding wearing their purple leotards and holding up their gold rods.
After only 2 years in the Top Division, we had reached 2^nd position in the overall A Grade aggregate.
One of our Inters Donna Harris won her section in the ASC Graceful Girl Competition.
In 1984 Sonia Narancic won the CASA Inter Graceful Girl, Belinda Clark won the Senior Section and Andrea Richards came on board to coach. Jenny Price was the President of the Committee.
In the overall CASA Aggregate, we remained in our 2^nd position in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987…at least we were consistent!
In 1986 and 87 the club took Inter and Seniors teams to the ASC Competitions, Chris Burgess was President of the Committee and Paula Mescke & Cindy Clark began teaching.
1987 was the last year the girls wore the purple terry toweling tracksuit and our club colours were changed to pink & black. The cute all-in-one pink and black jumpsuit was designed as the Club’s new tracksuit.

1991 Ridgehaven Babies in their All-In-One Club Tracksuit

In 1988 the Seniors won the aggregate in a fierce competition, but it wasn’t enough to get us over the line…we still finished up 2^nd in the overall A Grade aggregate...
Annette McGrath joined the teaching team and Wendy Curtis became one of our Costume Coordinators. Margaret Beales was the pianist for Miss Sharyn.

Long serving member Merron Holst being presented with her 1^st Place Certificates by Miss Kym & Miss Sharyn in 1988

In 1989 Natalie Laing won the Intermediate Section of the Graceful Girl competitions at the Nationals and once again we were 2^nd in the A Grade Aggregate.

Babies at the Christmas Concert in 1987 & 1989

Juliette Barry started teaching at Ridgehaven and Trevor Holst joined the Fundraising Committee in 1990…. We don’t think he realized what he was getting himself in for!
BUT We didn’t finish 2^nd in the Aggregate that year – we finished 3^rd!
Jeanette Harris was awarded the Esme Dobson Award for service to calisthenics – specifically Ridgehaven, and Natasha Savic won the CASA Junior Graceful Girl.
Miss Donna’s Flex Classes were a hit and the Wizard of Oz was our Pantomime at the Concert. We lost the Lion, Kylie Kilmier down the man hole – but she survived, with just a sprained ankle!
By 1991 Trevor Holst was the President of the Fundraising Committee with Wayne Morris as Vice President and the old jumpsuits were out and a new tracksuit made from the “in fashion” parachute material was designed.
Tracey Emes was a member of our Senior Team this year.
One of the major events in 1991 was our dad’s winning the Gentlemen of the Royalty Competition. Miss Arleen taught the 2 Winning Items.

Our winning Dad’s Team – the Ridgey Didges is 1991

Lee O’Brien won the CASA Sub-Junior Graceful Girl and at the end of the CASA Competitions we were back to 2^nd Place in the Aggregate.
1992 was the Club’s 25^th Year and didn’t we celebrate in style! We won Babies, Subbies & Juniors and gained 2^nd in Inters and Seniors. And the item of the night at the Senior Comps were our stunning Amadeus Rods which Miss Arleen had to perform in, after a girl injured herself a few weeks prior to comps.
And… we did it! We finally cracked Top Spot - We had won the 1992 A Grade Aggregate with 84 points, the next Club on 69 points. The Annual Christmas Concert was a huge Extravaganza and showcased items featuring music, television and movies from the previous 25 years.
Our Sub-Juniors and Juniors attended Club Camps and the Ridgehaven Club Song was born! Wendy Curtis was in charge of all Costumes and Sylvia Simpson was the Club Secretary.

Sub-Juniors on Camp in 1991

Kerry Cain, Sue Annesse, Stacey Haselwood and long time pupil and Life Member Kellie Wright began teaching with us over 1993 & 1994 and we had much Graceful Girl success with Natasha Savic, Carmel Siciliano and Rebecca MacDonald winning CASA Titles and Kim O’Brien winning the Junior National Section.

1994 Club photo

Our next whole Club Aggregate came in 1995 when our Subbies, Inters and Seniors won team Aggregates. Adele Donaldson & Angela Annesse joined the coaching team and once again the club was on a high. We also won the Inaugural Barry Tinker-Casson Trophy for the most aggregate points gained in the Fancy Item Section – due to our Subbies winning their “Teddy Bear Disco” Spec, Inters winning the “Here Comes the Big Parade” Song & Dance and Seniors winning the beautiful “Lean on Me” Rhythmic.

 Our 1995 Winning Sub-Junior Team taught by Sue Annesse.

In 1996 Michelle Davies became the Club Secretary and Trevor Holst decided to retire as Fundraising President. By 1998 he was back and Jan MacDonald was Vice-President.
Our Intermediates were undefeated from 1994 to 1997 and Arleen referred to these girls as her Dream Team. Items to remember from those years were the Cowboy March, Irish Rods and stunning EFX Rhythmic which we won by a whopping 10 points.
Kelly MacDonald & Chrissi Joanni were now teachers with us and Adele Tipping won the Sub-Junior Graceful Girl and Kim O’Brien won the National Title in the Inter Section. Natasha Savic won the Senior Graceful Girl Section at CASA in both 1996 & 1997.
1997 marked Arleen’s 20^th Year as Principal Coach at Ridgehaven. The Inters decorated the Dressing Room and made a guard of honour for her on Comp Night.

Arleen on Inter Comp night 1997.

We also had a special presentation at the Christmas Concert and the girls danced to Come on Eileen – one of Arleen’s favorite songs!
In her 21^st year at Ridgehaven, Arleen announced her retirement. 1998 was to be her last year, with Tracey Emes taking on the role of Principal Coach in 1999.
A wonderful display was presented to Arleen at her final Christmas Concert. Life members, family members, a display of costumes and special items were the features. It was an emotional night with special presentations after the concert upstairs at the Royalty. We thanked Arleen for the 21 years she had given to us. She dedicated so much of herself to Ridgehaven, it was her life and we once again thank her for her dedication and love for the Club.
AND at her last competition as Ridgehaven Coach, she made sure she wasn’t forgotten – our George of the Jungle Gym Spec was a Winner – an absolute hit and if you looked at the trees hard enough you might have seen some of our older teachers, namely Miss Kerry and Lyn O’Brien. This item was also showcased at the CASA Prize Winners Concert.
1999 marked a new era for Ridgehaven. We had new coaches, new girls and a new tracksuit! It was an exciting time around the Club and at Competitions we did extremely well – remaining in our 2^nd position. We once again won the Senior Dance Section with our Boogie Fever item, which we also performed at the CASA Prize Winners.  Karen Brothers and Shannon Mossop were along with Tracey, 2 of our new coaches and in 2000 Karen Frampton also joined us.  

1999 Seniors Boogie Fever Dance Arrangement

We also had a new Costume Co-ordinator, with Jenny Starick taking over in our Costume Department.
The Arleen Mount Perpetual Trophy for the Most Dedicated Club Girl was established by Tracey in 1999 and was to be rewarded to the girl whom is seen to be the most dedicated to the Club in any one year.
Tracey also brought in a Scholarship Program which enabled girls in Sub-Juniors thru to Inters who had not participated in a State Team to be eligible to be rewarded a Scholarship in their following year.
Our Annual Christmas Concerts were sell outs and held at the Shedley Theatre from 1999 to 2001.
In 2000 Brenton Neumann became the Vice-President of the Fundraising Committee and his wife Tracey was elected as Treasurer – positions they held until their daughters Jade & Amy retired from calisthenics in 2007.  Tracey has always encouraged Club girls into coaching roles and another long time pupil and Life Member Kimberly Curtis joined the coaching staff in 2001 along with Lisa Minnett. 
After a few years without a first team aggregate, we had done it again! Our Inters won a thrilling Competition in 2002 and the item of the night was their Pirates of Penzance Dance Arrangement.

The 2002 Winning Intermediate Team

New coaches that year were Belinda Mentha and Life Member Merron Holst.  Stacey Hill and Anita Cialini came on board in 2003 an in her first year, Anita won with her Inter 2’s.
Ashley Mitrovic won Graceful Girl in 2003.
Bec Griffiths started teaching in 2004 and she and Kimberly took the Inters to another great Aggregate Win. Stefanie Holst started teaching Tinies in 2005 and this same year we were so proud of Anita Cialini, who won the CASA Senior Graceful Girl. Carolyn Evans was now our Head Costume Co-Ordinator.
Another highlight in 2005 was the Seniors great win. After a 10 year drought, we won a Thrilling Aggregate – beating the next team by just 1 point. We won our Cabaret Song & Dance with 99 points and we partied into the wee wee hours of the morning!
The party continued all the way to Ballarat also – and our Seniors were the first Ridgehaven team to compete at Royal South Street in 2005. A very proud moment for the Club. Lisa Vettese also returned to help with routines and compete in the 3^rd Team in Ballarat.

The 2005 Seniors in Ballarat

2006 was a milestone year for 2 of our longest serving members – Merron Holst & Kimberly Curtis who celebrated 20 Years of Service at Ridgehaven together.

Merron Holst, Tracey Emes, Lisa Vettese & Kimberly Curtis on Comp Day 2006

New coaches in 2006 new coaches were Bec Williams, Shellee Craig & Lisa Vettese with Bianka Schumann, and Carmel Margheritis (nee Siciliano) coming on board in 2007.
In our 40^th year we reflected on what a wonderful Club Ridgehaven is to be a part of. We have had so many girls, parents and coaches come thru and make their lasting mark. We celebrated our 40 years with a function in November 2007 where many past and present members came to celebrate the success of Ridgehaven Calisthenics Club.
2008 is underway and we are thrilled to have Bec Griffiths back from WA coaching our Inters once again. Life Member and outstanding student Amy Hofmeyer has started her coaching career with Junior 2’s and 3’s and Senior Kylie Kurlywicz is teaching our Sub-Junior 3 Team. 

If you have any information to add to this history or any photographs, please contact Tracey Emes at temes8@optusnet.com.au thank you!