Val Connors, one of Physie’s national treasures, passed away peacefully this week, surrounded by her family. Trained at the Castlereagh Street gymnasium in Sydney, Val gained her diploma in teaching Physical Culture from Bjelke-Petersen Bros. She is one of only two people I know that have met Christian Bjelke-Petersen, BJP’s founder. Although she did tell me once that they didn’t actually converse as such, more that she and the other students plastered themselves against the corridor wall as Christian made his way past to teach a class.

Val taught Physie in Sydney until she married, moved to Newcastle and started a family. Bill Turner, Managing Director at the time, asked her not only to start a club in Newcastle but to train others to start many new clubs and create a zone. And, with nothing being too great a challenge for Val, she proceeded to do so with great success. The zone flourishes today and there are many Physie teachers around NSW who were taught by Val. She understood that it’s not enough to just be good at Physie, you have to be willing to become the best teacher you can possibly be.

As a child I recall Val being tiny but formidable! She could control a huge class with just a word, or even sometimes just a look. When I became a teacher myself, I realised what a brilliant teacher she was with an incredible eye for detail and the ability to motivate students to strive for 100% accuracy in their positions and fulfil their physical potential.

Val was intelligent, determined and a good sport with unquestionable integrity. She was admired and respected by her peers and loved by her students. She always stood and moved with perfect posture! (This old black and white photograph from a newspaper article is a perfect example.) And she had a wicked sense of humour.

Last year Val told me she would come to watch the Opera House finals, “one last time”. I’m so glad she did. She was thrilled, impressed and proud to see just how far Physie has come in terms of the athleticism and artistry that our senior girls achieve.

What an incredible legacy Val has left us and the Physie world is grateful. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. May she rest in peace and may we all do her proud.

Jackie Rawlings