Achtung! Das ReaderBlog!

At last, a vlog from a reader. Actually, this one's more of a 'plog' (see: picture/photo blog) but the effort is greatly appreciated. Truly.

I await equally enthusiastic participants for this project. Don't be shy!

...anyone?

(ETA - After that special message, here's one from Gymnastics Victoria:

Gymnastics Victoria offers its support and well wishes for all our members and their families who have been affected by the fires. This is a terrible time and we, as a community, need to help one another.

I encourage all clubs/individuals to think about what they can do to assist. Suggestions which have come forward include:-

* Donate leotards, long whites, grips etc.
* Offer to sponsor a gymnast for a year/term
* Equipment to donate/lend to a club which has lost equipment.
* Other ideas are welcome.

If you or your club would like to participate, please complete the registration form here,
or contact Gymnastics Victoria on 9214 6020.)

An Appealing Visit

Thanks to the anon. poster for alerting me to the following:

I was picking up friends from NICA yesterday and noticed a sign in the VWHPC window that the gymnasts are having an open day on the 21st Feb - it said that they are normally family events and free but on this Saturday it will be open to the public and entry by donation which will go to the Bushfire Appeal - I asked the lady who put the sign up and she said she will be putting something up on the website soon.

Very thoughtful. Wonder if our Victorian gymnasts will make an appearace?

Home and A-WAIS

I love mysteries. Don't you?

The sport of Gymnastics has been involved in the filming of some local TV shows in recent weeks.

The profile of the sport, our athletes and well known health and fitness benefits have seen Australian TV networks approach Gymnastics Australia to have the sport included in the filming of future episodes of their most popular shows.

Whilst we are unable to detail the name of the shows (at the request of the networks) we will endeavour to let you know as soon as we can, of possible air dates (including any behind the scenes photos or verbal reports) from athletes or those directly involved.

We can tell you that one show featured a senior member of the Women's National Squad and both involved contestants getting into gymnastics activities.

Stay tuned for more information on these great promotions of the sport.

Evidently they can no longer shell out for Nationals to be filmed and broadcasted. But they can get our girls a guest spot on something scripted. Right. Well, I predict any of the following:

* Neighbours- Season 21, Episode 5: "Little Beam of Sunshine". Kiralee is in two minds about admitting her pregnancy to Jacksyn. Dr Karl is on temporary leave; Amber Fulljames guest stars as Dr Anne Smedgley (PhD, BSc), the wisened and well-travelled Family Planning consultant.

* So You Think You Can Dance? Semifinal: Suprise celebrity contestant Dasha Joura gets a flight to Sydney and wins an automatic place in the Grand Final by simply staring down the judges.

* Big Brother- AIS Edition: Kyle Sandilands makes smart remarks overlooking the AIS gymnastics training hall. Everybody SMS-votes for him to be evicted.

* The Shack- Olympics Special: Stephanie Rice shows you how to take perfect photographs... of yourself. Grant Hackett takes on the-stupid-male-hosts-with-stupid-stage-names in a Weetbix-eating competition. Phillippe Rizzo shows fashionable tweens how to make a beauty spot work in their favour.

* The Wiggles- A Very Wiggly Olympics: Purple Wiggle Jeff's constant sleeping deemed suspicious by drug testing officials. Lauren Mitchell steps in as a late replacement, adds Humphrey turn into 'Hot Potato' choreography.

* Packed to the Rafters- Season 2, Episode 6: "Dysfunction Junction". Quirky Son of the Equally Quirky, Borderline Neurotic Rafter Parents falls for Quirky New Neighbour Bindy (special guest star Georgia Bonora) and invites her to dinner. Quirkily, she declines, but he pursues her well into the next episode. In a quirky yet tediously inevitable fashion.




In other appearance news, Emily Little has been selected to compete at Gymnix. Lauren Mitchell will forgo the Doha World Cup in favour of the Salamunov Memorial (Maribor) World Cup in April.

Nigel No-Friends

Where my vlogs at?
I'm twiddlin' my thumbs here...

Slightly More Positive News

Olivia Vivian's latest diary entry can be found here.

Some more Massilia Cup videos have surfaced (thanks, Aurelia) including Britt Greeley's floor final routine here, and Lauren Mitchell's floor and bars routines from their respective finals. Looks like that piked full-in is staying, I just wish the poor dear could control it!

At this point I wish to ask people to consider donating two very important commodities - money or your own blood - to the Red Cross who are putting both towards victims of the bushfires who sorely need resources. Both would only require a short amount of your time but would make a lifetime of difference. Also consider joining (and committing to the ideal of) the Buy a CFA Volunteer a Beer Day group at Facebook. Couldn't be more Aussie.

I wish also to paraphrase the words of one of my favourite bloggers and pop-culture wordsmiths Jess Macguire at Defamer blog, whose blogging lifestyle (with the exception of the Lily Allen condoms thing) is similar to my own-

And at times like these, waking up in the morning and writing stories about Lily Allen being unable to buy condoms without getting recognised or posting YouTube videos of angry cats just makes me feel like a complete dick, you know?. But it is what I do, much to my family's shame, and it's what you come here for.

But I want you to know that while I won't be writing much else about the fires on Defamer Australia - god knows there are enough reputable news outlets you can get information from, you don't need me throwing in my pointless two cents - please don't think that I don't care or am too obsessed with Southern Sons' hits of yesteryear to be following the situation.

Instead, go to The Age or The Herald Sun or any other news site you like, and you'll find out all you need to know. And so as Your Editor spends the week trawling through the pointless and occasionally amusing world of celebrity and pop culture, know that I do so whilst quietly keeping the folks who have lost everything during the weekend bushfires in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you'll do the same.

Community Service Announcement

I've literally just walked in the door from a weekend in Tasmania, attending a friend's wedding. I had a lovely time, but it wasn't until I switched on the news that I fathomed how worrying things were in other parts of Australia.

I wish to send my heartfelt wishes out to anyone affected by the heat and severe fires that have destroyed parts of Victoria, my lovely home state, this weekend. I have relatives in Bendigo and surrounding areas, I understand the concern some of you may be experiencing. Bendigo in particular is a special place within the Australian gymnastics community as it has hosted several national and international events that have launched the careers of many of our elite stars.

It takes great courage to look out for loves ones and seek alternative shelter in the dangerous times, and more courage to stay put in the line of fire (no pun intended) in order to protect them and your home.

I hope this coming week brings better news and circumstances for everyone.

The Leader Speaks (sorta.)

Well, I tried to embed the video but Blogger had a brainfart.

So here we are then.

Again, apologies for the crapness in quality (I think I also left out an answer to one of the questions). You do what you can on limited time and resources. Note the mess around me, the television noise in the background and the fact that I'm sitting on the floor.

The things I do for this sport, eh!

Now it's your turn to speak (or write, haha) your mind about the state of the sport in this country. Read the post below for all instructions. Don't be shy now, y'hear?

Australian Gymnastics Vlog

I was so impressed with the responses to the Australian Gymnastics Blog Awards and the 'Go You Big Red Fire Engine' Olympics project, and have been thinking about ways to get the fans' opinions off the message boards and into the public, given recent comments, that I have cracked onto an idea.

It's less about me counting votes this time and more about YOU having your say.

I know several of you are vocal about this sport we know and love and this is your chance to capitalise on it... in audio-visual form!

So...!

The questionnaire below is open to you, my 1500+weekly(!!!) visitors. The catch is, I'd love to see you answer it in 'vlog' form. That is, film yourself answering the questionnaire as an address to camera, be it a webcam, digital camera propped on a shelf facing you or a fancy-pants camcorder thingery on a tripod.

You don't have to introduce yourself or reveal your location if you don't want to, you don't have to show your face if you don't want to (though it'd be nice...), you can read off cue cards or a piece of paper, have a hand puppet read your answers for you, I don't mind. Do what's easiest and most comfortable. Seeing the YouTube movement take off and Harry Potter/Doctor Who/Olympics/football/etc fans take to their cams with great gusto makes me realise how passionate some people can be and how much their voices need to be heard. Be specific, be creative, offer some suggestions. It's a chance to say "Hey, GA! THIS is what we think of gymnastics in this country!"

So...! (again) Answer any or all of the questions below on camera, upload your short and sweet video to YouTube and send the URL my way (ozgymblog@gmail.com). They will be posted here very soon. Any identifying details such as your email address or location will be kept confidential if you so wish, but unfortunately whatever is on your YouTube account is your responsibility.

My own vlog will be up shortly.

Please note that all vlogs will be viewed prior to being posted here. Any material deemed inappropriate or unsuitable for public display will not be posted. Please, for the good of other readers, no swearing or violence or nudity. Save that for your drunken Christmas party videos.


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1. Are you a current gymnast/gymsporter (e.g. acro, aero), former gymnast/gymsporter, a coach, an official, a 'gym mum/dad' or a fan?

2. Who is/was your favourite Australian competitor and why?

3. What do you think sets Australian gymnasts apart from gymnasts of other countries; what do you think makes our gymnasts unique?

4. Do you believe there are any aspects of the Australian gymnastics program that need to be removed or changed? What are they and why?

5. Do you believe any aspects of the Australian National Gymnastics Championships (or National Championships of the other gymsports) that need to be removed or changed? What are they and why?

6. How could the way gymnastics is promoted in Australia be changed or improved?

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If it's of any help to you, within about four weeks I hope to have a celebrity endorsement of this blog. Stay tuned for that, and in the meantime... fire up yer Record buttons and show me what ya got!