A RESUME OF CONFERENCES, AFFILIATIONS, COMPETITIONS AND SUNDRY ITEMS OF INTEREST IN THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN GYMNASTIC FEDERATION

• 1949 - 1958
• 1959 - 1968
• 1969 - 1978
• 1979 - 1988
• 1989 - 1995

1949

• The first meeting and formation of the Australian Gymnastic Union (A.G.U.) held on September 8th
• The A.G.U. President is Mr T. Morris, vice-president is W.J. Wilson and Secretary is Mr J.R. Carey
• Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales form the A.G.U.

1950

• · The first National Championships held with only male teams and individuals competing

1951

• Affiliation accepted by the Australian Olympic Federation (A.O.F.)

1954

• Affiliation accepted by the Federation International de Gymnastique (F.I.G.) at their Rome Meeting
• A.G.U. now conform to International Regulations

1955

• Western Australia affiliated with the A.G.U.
• South African Gymnastic Association requests support for gymnastics
  included in British Empire Games

1956

• South Australia affiliated with the A.G.U.
• Olympic Games held in Melbourne - full teams for men and women competed
• First international competition held in Melbourne (Olympic Games)
• Negotiations to standardise equipment in Australia

1957

• Mr Wilson appointed Co-ordinator for Women's Artistic Gymnastics

1958

• F.I.G. Congress held in Moscow - first delegates attended
• Attended a Meeting with a view to forming a British Commonwealth Gymnastic Association

Back to Top

1959

• First competitor to travel to New Zealand
• First Women's Artistic Gymnastic Australian Championships

1960

• Olympic Games held in Rome - Two individual men and two individual women competed
• Eligibility issue discussed re: National Champion
  

1961

• A.G.U. accept the idea of Junior Championships
  

1962

• F.I.G. Congress held in Prague
• Delegates attending Congresses regularly

1963

• Discussions held re: the inclusion of team Calisthenics

1964

• Olympic Games held in Tokyo - Full team representation
• The first "Australian Gymnast" published

1965

• Technical plus Conference sessions for A.G.U.
• 2nd Secretary - Mr J.A. Thompson appointed to the A.G.U.
• Introduced the first Under 18 Men's Competition

1966

• World Championships held in Dortmund - Three individual women competed

1967

• New Constitution/Technical Regulations
• Introduced the first Lapel Badge

1968

• Olympic Games held in Mexico City - One man and one woman competed
• A.G.U. changed name to Australian Amateur Gymnastic Union (A.A.G.U.)

Back to Top

1969

• Australian Capital Territory affiliated with the A.A.G.U.
• Introduced the first Under 19 Men's Competition
• Introduced the first Under 16 Women's Competition

1970

• Tasmania affiliated with the A.A.G.U.
• World Championships held in Ljubljana - Women's team and three individual men competed

1971

• 2nd President - Mr J.E. Barry elected to the A.A.G.U.
• Guest Coach, Yoshiteru Matsuzaki from Japan, to conduct Clinics in Australia

1972

• Olympic Games held in Munich - Two individual men and one individual woman competed
• Pacific Tour

1973

• Tour to Australia by Japanese Team
• Federal funding for sport introduced
• USSR Tour in Australia including Olga Karbut

1974

• 3rd Secretary - J.W. Wilby elected to the A.A.G.U.
• World Championships held in Varna - Women's team and three individual men competed
• Display at Commonwealth Games - New Zealand
• Guest Coach, Peter Chen from New Zealand, to conduct a Men's Clinic in Australia

1975

• Intercontinental Judges Course held in France
• First Brevetted Judges - Jim Barry and Frances Thompson
• First National Women's Bronze Championships (Level 8) - A.C.T.

• First Continental Judges Course held in Australia
• Frank Kominsky (USA) and Ulla Berg (SWE) were Guest Lecturers
• Olympic Games held in Montreal - One woman and two men competed
• First Men's Technical Manual produced by Barry Cheales

1977

• A.A.G.U. changed name to Australian Gymnastic Federation (A.G.F.)
• Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics was included under the A.G.F. umbrella and formed nationally
• Formation of Confederation of Australian Sport
• China Tour - First Australian team to China

1978

• Formation of Commonwealth Gymnastic Federation
• Four Continents Championships Committee formed
• Tours represented at:
  • Pacific Rim, Canada
  • Sanlam Cup, South Africa
  • RSG Trans Tasman, Australia
  • RSG Four Continent Championships, Canada
  • World Championships, France
  • Commonwealth Games, Canada
• First medals won at Commonwealth Games
  • Lindsay Nylund won silver in All-Around. Men's Team won bronze
• Lindsay Nylund of Westeen Australia was the first gymnast to receive receive an individual ranking (top 36)
• First Men's Judge active on floor at World Championships since Code of Points introduced
• A.G.F. full-time Administrator appointed - Ellen Alston - funded by Federal monies
• National Office plus V.G.A. Office move to President's business address
• First Development Plan produced

  Back to Top