It was with great regret that we learned of the passing of our beloved “Teach” on February 8, 2010 aged 94 years.

Whilst not being actively involved in her School for a number of years due to ill health, her presence was always felt by her teachers and their pupils. Under the direction of a Board consisting of present-day teachers, the School has continued to instill in our members the values and ideals for which Teach was renowned and we will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.

We thank Teach for having the vision, wisdom and foresight to begin her School which has seen so many girls and ladies over the past 50 years gain great enjoyment, exercise and friendship from their involvement with physi.

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Our founder, Miss Edith Parsons, began her physi career as a pupil at age 16 and in the following years she competed in numerous Champion Girl competitions as well as becoming renowned as an excellent teacher.

In 1961 Miss Parsons (or 'Teach' as she is affectionately known) branched out on her own to establish the Edith Parsons School Of Physical Culture with nine clubs and the following foundation teachers: Anne Johanson, Norma Sullivan, Lillian Nutting, Shirley Johnson, Hazel Lane, Iris Leany and Shirley Bullock.

Teach was greatly encouraged and helped in those early years by her dear friend, Mrs. Alice Lewis, who was her pianist for many years at one of the numerous clubs at which Teach taught. These included clubs in churches, business houses, private schools and at a school for the hearing-impaired where Teach was able to devise a system of clapping her hands to enable the members to 'feel' the beat as they were unable to hear the music.

Her School rapidly increased to include clubs from the North Coast to the South Coast of New South Wales, and also in the ACT. She herself travelled far and wide to visit teachers and their clubs and take classes wherever required.

Teach's talent for choreography is legendary. She was the sole choreographer for her School until her retirement - a truly outstanding accomplishment when one considers the many thousands of exercises that this entailed.

Teach’s high standards of choreographic excellence are now maintained by devoted teachers who will continue to dedicate their time and skills as long as there are girls and ladies to whom we can introduce the healthy and happy lifestyle of Physi.