Meet Our Coaches

  Coaches Asistant Coaches
Tines Joane Barton Lauren Harrison and Erin Lofts
Sub Juniors Samantha Luckey and Joanne Gould Samantha Reeves
Juniors Sally Durham Emily Pearce and Natalie OOsterhof
Intermediates Sharon McCrorie Carly Harrison and Sally Durham
Seniors Leila Sheehan Michele Sleight
Non-Competitive Diane Luckey and Jenny Cooper

Joanne BartonTinies Coach : Joanne Barton
Joanne’s history with Avonde almost goes back to its starting days. She commenced as a Tiny in 1966, the second year of the club. She was a pupil until her retirement from Seniors and achieved Avonde's Best Club Girl in 1981. An Accredited Level One coach, Joanne commenced coaching in 1976 and spent many years as the Principal coach of Newport Calisthenics Club as well as an Assistant Coach of the Avonde Seniors. She came out of a "short" retirement to assist with Tinies in 2006 and in 2008 stepped up to coach the first team. Joanne has a daughter in the Club and maintains an interest in all sections. She has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and a Diploma of Secondary Education and is currently a full time teacher.

Carly HarrisonIntermediates Assistant Coach : Carly Harrison
Carly has been involved in calisthenics for 14 years, assisting for the last 4. She has achieved a coaching cadetship, and will be going for her Level 1 accreditation as soon as she turns 18. Awarded Avonde Junior Champion (2002). Winner of CVI state junior graceful 2001 and 2002. A first year senior in 2007, Carly made it through to the final 30 performers at CVI, and also taught a solo this year. Another Calisthenics family history links Carly to Avonde - her great grandmother used to play the piano for the club when it first started - her mother Rhonda was an Avonde student for many years (also a coach) and her two sisters also perform with Avonde (Inters & Tinies).

Samantha ReevesSub Juniors Coach: Samantha Reeves
Sam has been involved with Avonde Calisthenics for 14 years. She was awarded Avonde Junior Champion in 2003. Sam has been part of Victoria State Team on four occasions. She received 3rd place at Nationals - Intermediates Gracefuls in 2007. Sam is currently studying a Diploma of Children Services.
Samantha is currently doing her Level 1 course and is a Cadet Coach.

Sally DurhamJuniors Coach & Intermediates Assistant Coach : Sally Durham Avonde history goes back a dozen years to 1995 when she joined the club. Sally commenced coaching in 2002, and was awarded Champion Girl in 2003. A Level 1 accredited coach, Sally is also coaching the State Team, Juniors section in 2007, as well as full time study – a busy lady indeed!



Joanne GouldSub Juniors Coach : Joanne Gould
With a significant amount of family members (including 2 daughters currently at Avonde) involved in Calisthenics, Jo was always destined to be a coach, which she started in 1988, after being at Avonde since 1979 (Champion Girl ’87). An accredited Level 1 coach, Jo not only is involved with the Subbies, but also the Tinies and Juniors during 2007!



Leila JakupiSeniors Coach: Leila Sheehan (Former: Leila Jakupi)
Leila started her coaching career in 1996, 10 years after joining Avonde. Leila was awarded Junior Champion in 1991, attained Champion Girl in 1997 and went on to achieve Gold Medalist with Honors Bar status in 2001. An accredited Level 1 Coach, Leila also taught Juniors last year and is looking for bigger and better things this year.


Samantha LuckeySub Juniors Coach : Samantha Lukey
Samantha joined Avonde in 1992, and commenced coaching assistant duties in 2006 Assisting with Juniors and choreographing 2nd Team work under the guidance of her Mum. She is currently completing her Level 1 course and is a Cadet Coach. Samantha was awarded Avonde Junior Champion in 2001, and Senior Champion Girl in 2009 and is also competing in Senior Graceful Solos. She follows in the footsteps of her coaching mum, Diane. Member or the Victorian State Team on 3 occasions 1997,2000, and 2009. Member of the winning team at  National Championships on 2 occasions. Winner of CVI State Solo Competition in 1998.

Diane LuckeyJuniors Assistant Coach and Non Competitive classes Coach: Diane Lukey
Diane started Calisthenics at the age of 5 and competed for 25 years, winning Most Improved in her 1st year and the Senior Coaches Award 3 times. Calisthenics has been part of her life ever since.
Diane coached for over 20 years (Including many years as Principal Coach of St.Marks C.C.) and took all sections she coached up through many grades. She joined the Avonde coaching team in 2006 when she assisted in Juniors with her daughter Samantha. Diane has been with Avonde as a Mum for 17 years helping with costumes, props, team manager, solo coach, and now as Assistant Coach of Juniors and Non Competitive coach with Jill Goss. Diane is the Level 1 Assistant co-ordinator of the VCCA and has just been accepted to commence her Adjudicator Cadetship Training in 2010.

Sharon McCrorieIntermediates Coach : Sharon McCrorie
Sharon commenced as a pupil at Avonde at the age of 8 and has been an Avonde girl ever since. As a pupil she was awarded the Most Improved (1976) and Champion Girl (1981) trophies and became a life member in 1983. Sharon began coaching in 1982 and over her years at Avonde she has coached Tinies, Juniors, Inters & Seniors and is currently the Intermediate Coach. She also teaches Graceful Girl solos and was the recipient of the Sandra Iddles memorial trophy in 1999 as the coach of the Most Graceful Girl at Ballarat (Avonde's own Natalie Goss). In 1990, Sharon was the recipient of the Coach of the Year, awarded by the Victorian Calisthenics Coaches Association. Sharon’s daughter Sarah is also a pupil at Avonde and was a life member in 2009.

Michelle SleightSeniors Assistant Coach : Michele Sleight
Michele started her coaching career in 1999 and is a Level 1 accredited coach. She spent her early years in calisthenics at Regent until it closed and she then joined Avonde in 1999. Michele has coached Avonde 2nd and 3rd Tinies teams and has had experience coaching Levels. She has also coached Subjuniors, Juniors, Intermediates at other clubs, also coaching various ages in solos. Michele has achieved her Gold Medal and at the moment is enjoying assisting Natalie with the Seniors and hopes they will have a successful year.

blank imageNon Competitive Classes Sydenham Coach: Jennie Cooper
An original Avonde starter, Jennie has been with Jill from 1965, and commence coaching duties in 1973. Awarded Avonde Club Girl in 1978, Jennie is an accredited Level 1 Coach and conducts the Sydenham non competitive classes.