28/08/2026
🎀 MEET EMMA-KATE LINDSAY 🎀
Principal Coach | Happy Valley Calisthenics Club
It’s difficult to tell Emma-Kate’s calisthenics story without first telling you about her mum, Tina.
Almost 48 years ago, Tina Lindsay began taking her goddaughter to calisthenics classes. When the club suddenly found itself without a coach, Tina volunteered to step into the role — never imagining that nearly five decades later, she would still be involved with Happy Valley Calisthenics Club.
Then along came Emma-Kate.
At just three weeks old, Emma-Kate was brought into the Happy Valley calisthenics hall for the first time.
And she really hasn’t left since. 💗
What followed has been a lifetime immersed in the sport — as a competitor, State Team representative, coach, demonstrator, mentor and now Principal Coach of the club that has always been home.
⭐ WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
At just four years old — when competing at that age was allowed! — Emma-Kate took to the competition stage with Happy Valley’s Sub-Junior folk dance.
They won the State Championship title.
It turned out to be quite the introduction to competitive calisthenics!
At seven, Emma-Kate was simultaneously selected for the State Gymnastics Squad and chosen as one of only 16 girls from 267 Sub-Junior auditionees for the prestigious South Australian Sub-Junior National Team.
The team travelled to Perth and placed 3rd nationally, all while Emma-Kate continued training and competing with Happy Valley.
The following year, she was selected for the SA Sub-Junior National Team for a second time, travelling to Sydney under coach Cheryl Ablett.
That team made history, becoming the first team in the sport to win all five items at a National competition.
And yes — Emma-Kate still has the trophy at home! 🏆
That same year brought another achievement particularly close to her heart: Emma-Kate became the State Champion Soloist.
Solo has always remained her favourite part of our sport.
⭐ THE STATE TEAM YEARS
The following year, while Tina was assistant coach of the SA Intermediate National Team, Emma-Kate travelled as their unofficial little mascot.
Then came an unexpected opportunity: she was asked to step into the SA Junior National Team at the last minute to replace an injured team member.
Off to Canberra she went — and another collection of wonderful memories was made.
As a second-year Junior, Emma-Kate was once again selected for the SA Junior National Team, this time travelling to the Gold Coast and adding another State title to her achievements.
It was during this period that Emma-Kate moved to compete with Marden, where she would spend many years being coached, challenged and inspired by some of South Australia’s most talented and accomplished coaches.
As a final-year Junior, Nationals came home to Adelaide. Representing South Australia once again, Emma-Kate and her team achieved 2nd place nationally.
Over the following three years, she travelled interstate with Marden to compete in Victoria, gaining an enormous amount of experience — and plenty of lifelong memories along the way.
⭐ INTERMEDIATES, BALLARAT & BEYOND
During her Intermediate years, Emma-Kate was a member of two consecutive State Championship-winning teams, travelling to Ballarat and once again having the opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the state’s leading coaches.
At the same time, her competitive life stretched beyond calisthenics.
Emma-Kate was also a member of her school’s elite aerobics team, travelling to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to compete at an elite level. The experience exposed her to fierce competition and broadened her skills across dance, movement and aerobics.
⭐ SENIOR YEARS
As a young Senior, Emma-Kate was again selected to represent South Australia at the National Championships, travelling to Melbourne and achieving 2nd place nationally with her team.
The following year brought a completely different opportunity when she was appointed Demonstrator for the SA Junior Championship Team.
For someone who had spent so many years travelling as a competitor, it was a chance to experience State Teams from the coaching side — another chapter that would help shape the coach she would become.
There was still one final National Championships experience waiting.
As a Senior, Emma-Kate had the opportunity to compete at Nationals at home in Adelaide, on the prestigious Festival Theatre stage, with her family there to watch.
After years of interstate trips, training, auditions, competitions and representing South Australia, being presented with her consecutive National Team badge from the Australian Calisthenic Federation remains an incredibly proud memory.
🎀 BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS A HAPPY VALLEY GIRL.
Amongst the State Teams, interstate trips, Championship titles, Marden training, aerobics competitions, solos, duos and countless hours spent in calisthenics halls…
Happy Valley was always home.
Emma-Kate continued competing for Happy Valley at State Championships throughout the years.
As soon as she was old enough to coach, she did.
She assisted.
She taught.
She choreographed.
She mentored.
She guided generations of Happy Valley students.
And year after year, she continued taking the stage herself at Championship level in Graceful Girl, Solo and Duo competitions.
Today, the little three-week-old baby Tina once carried into the Happy Valley hall is the club’s Principal Coach.
There are simply too many achievements to fit into one post.
Too many competitions.
Too many interstate trips.
Too many incredible coaches Emma-Kate has had the privilege of learning from.
Too many students she has watched grow.
Too many friendships.
Too many costumes.
Too many rehearsals.
Too many speeches… and according to those who know Emma-Kate, quite a few of those speeches probably went on a little too long! 😂
And far too many special memories to count.
But perhaps the achievement Emma-Kate is most proud of isn’t a trophy, title or National Team badge.
It’s still being here.
Still walking into the Happy Valley hall.
Still teaching the next generation.
Still believing that calisthenics can give a child confidence, friendships, resilience, belonging and memories that last a lifetime.
Nearly 48 years after Tina first volunteered to help a little calisthenics club that needed a coach, their family is still here.
And Happy Valley is still home. 🎀💗
