• © Lyndal Irons. Physie is Australia's oldest fitness craze. Thousands of women do it but Physical Culture remains a sport difficult to define. It is a bit like a military drill. A bit like dance. A bit like gymnastics. A bit like synchronised swimming without water. And it’s been around for 120 years. The ‘physie movement’ dates back to 1892 when Denmark-born Hans Christian Bjelke-Petersen started the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture (BJP), a medical gymnasium in Tasmania to promote health, fitness and posture for both sexes.In 1923 the company moved to Sydney and women’s Physical Culture classes sprung up in business houses like David Jones.
    © Lyndal Irons. Physie is Australia's oldest fitness craze. Thousands of women do it but Physical Culture remains a sport difficult to define. It is a bit like a military drill. A bit like dance. A bit like gymnastics. A bit like synchronised swimming without water. And it’s been around for 120 years. The ‘physie movement’ dates back to 1892 when Denmark-born Hans Christian Bjelke-Petersen started the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture (BJP), a medical gymnasium in Tasmania to promote health, fitness and posture for both sexes.In 1923 the company moved to Sydney and women’s Physical Culture classes sprung up in business houses like David Jones.
  • © Lyndal Irons. Girls rehearse and mentally prepare backstage for the 2nd year senior section of the Senior National Finals at the Opera House.
    © Lyndal Irons. Girls rehearse and mentally prepare backstage for the 2nd year senior section of the Senior National Finals at the Opera House.
  • © Lyndal Irons. Elite Ladies section at the Opera House National Finals. An overjoyed Jenny leaps towards the prize table to receive her prize.
    © Lyndal Irons. Elite Ladies section at the Opera House National Finals. An overjoyed Jenny leaps towards the prize table to receive her prize.
  • © Lyndal Irons. Winners of their sections, in Open Senior National Finals at the Opera House, being briefed for the Parade of Champions at the end of the night.
    © Lyndal Irons. Winners of their sections, in Open Senior National Finals at the Opera House, being briefed for the Parade of Champions at the end of the night.
  • © Lyndal Irons.
    © Lyndal Irons.
  • © Lyndal Irons. Three friends from the same club are about to compete in the 21‐22 year section at the qualifying heats, hoping to make the Opera House.
    © Lyndal Irons. Three friends from the same club are about to compete in the 21‐22 year section at the qualifying heats, hoping to make the Opera House.
  • © Lyndal Irons. The grooming routine for 15‐16 year old teams where all 8 girls are made up simultaneously and the lipstick always goes on at the last possible moment.
    © Lyndal Irons. The grooming routine for 15‐16 year old teams where all 8 girls are made up simultaneously and the lipstick always goes on at the last possible moment.

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