The competition is making a return after 15 years.

Gloucester teacher, Lyn Creek has been asked to organise the event.

Lyn said it hasn’t taken place in the region for some time due to a drop in student numbers and therefore, competitors were combined with Newcastle and Far North Coast Zones.  

“But now numbers have increased to the point where our own zone has been reinstated,” she said.

It will be Lyn’s 30^th zone competition, but her first time as head associate. She’s responsible for getting everything organised before the event takes place on October 14 and 15.

With 275 competitors from eight clubs, Lyn had to find a location big enough, that was available and had a suitable floor, as the students compete in bare feet.

The large hall in Taree’s Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) has been teed up for the girls to show their routines, as individuals or in a team.

Students from Port City, Camden Haven, Bonny Hills, Wauchope, Taree Great Lakes, Manning Valley, River City (Taree) and Hallidays Point are registered to attend; with 25 from Gloucester/Stroud and around 20 from Taree and Forster/Tuncurry.

The event will run with groups of 12 to 14 competitors performing five identical routines. After each routine, the girls move to ahead a position in line, closer to the stage where the judges are sitting, giving each student a chance to complete a routine at the front. When the teams perform they will be judged on their ability to complete the routine in unison.

“It’s like synchronised swimming on land,” Lyn said.

On the Saturday, girls aged five to eight will compete, with the nine to 12-year-old’s on Sunday.  There will be heats to determine the semi finals, with 12 girls of each age chosen for the finals. From there, five are awarded a place and entry into the national competition held in Sydney in November, except for the five-year-old girls, who are “a bit to young for it.” 

But that’s not the end for the other girls who made it into the final, as they get another chance at Nationals by attending the Repechage competition in Sydney two weeks after.

Kylee Fitzgerald, who teaches physie in Gloucester, will be helping Lyn and the students during the event. She’s been involved in physie for many years and will be heading to Coffs Harbour for the senior zone competition later in the month.

BJP’s motto is about empowering girls for life, encouraging them to set goals and never giving up, which is something Kylee has taken on board. She’s just finished her year 12 classes and is preparing for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams with hopes of attending university to become a primary school teacher.