This wooden juggling club or exercise club may also be referred to as a juggling pin. It is very similar in shape to a bowling pin or an Indian club. It dates approximately to the early 20th century. It may have been used as one of a pair for gymnastics or exercise, or part of a larger set used by a juggler for entertainment in a circus or carnival. At some time it may have been used with a ball or disc as part of a Skittles or bowling game set. The historical collection of Federation University Australia, Victoria, includes a very similar but slightly shorter club, labelled ‘timber skittle”, as can be seen in their photograph. Another example of very similar-shaped, same-sized clubs can be seen in the collection of Nobelius Heritage Park and Emerald Museum, Emerald, Victoria. JUGGLING Jugglers entertain audiences with their tricks and routines at events such as circuses, amusement parks, parties, shows on television or theatre, schools and parties. Juggles also compete at International Championships to obtain world records, performing as individuals or in groups or teams. Contemporary champion juggler David Cain performs a Juggling History Show that both entertains and educates his audience. His routines date from the early 1600s to the 20th century. He uses a wide variety of equipment in his acts including juggling clubs. EXERCISE Exercise clubs or Indian clubs were used in 19th century Victorian times as part of exercise or strengthening programs when they were swung in certain patterns and movements. Even in the early 20th century workplace a few minutes of Indian club swinging was common practice for the relief of tension. A video clip of an American school room in 1904 shows a group of boys and girls skilfully wielding clubs in an exercise sequence (see ‘Links” section). The 1904 and 1932 Olympic Games had an event called Club Swinging. Rhythmic gymnastics was added to the Olympic Program at the L.A. Games in 1984 where competitors use apparatus such as rope, hoop, ball, ribbon and clubs. The clubs come in a variety of weights and heights and have been used from the mid-1800s until around the 1930s in schools and military institutions. They are decorated in a variety of patterns and colours and some have feature lines or scored rings on them. This juggling club is significant for its association with education, entertainment and sport in the late 19th and early 20th century.Wooden juggling club (or pin, skittle or Indian club). Vintage, bottle-shaped club with a flat, slightly concave, base. Its turned, solid timber body tapers out from the base then in again to a very narrow handle with a round knob joined onto the top. Two concentric feature lines are scored into the wider part of club. It was possibly used in exercise, gymnastics or as a skittle. Sections of the club have two brown painted stripes; paint on the lower strip has been worn off at the base . There are remnants of white paint in two areas, possibly the remains of a maker’s name or decoration. There also appears to be an inscription stamped into the wooden handle but this is illegible. Late 19th to early 20th century.Remnants of what appears to be stamped lettering and painted labelling.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, wooden skittle, entertainment, bowling skittle, wooden juggling pin, wooden juggling club, wooden exercise club, indian club, exercise club, club swinging, rhythmic gymnastics, sport equipment, juggling equipment, wooden club

Lil was born in Long Gully, Bendigo in 1904 daughter of Herbert Charles Leopold Willaton and Lillie Jenkins. She had 3 brothers and 3 sisters, one brother dying in infancy. The family lived in Lille Street, Surrey Hills. Both her parents and one sister died in Surrey Hills. In the 1920s Lil gained her A.L.C.M. (Australian London College of Music) in singing and made a career of teaching gymnastics with calisthenics, rhythmic movement etc. She arranged the music and lyrics for items and also designed the costumes, as well as conducting the physical training which culminated in annual concerts held in Box Hill and other town halls. Lil married Leslie Reginald Stephenson in 1934 and they lived at 36 Union Road, Surrey Hills. She died in July 1995 and is buried in Box Hill Cemetery - CE-126-0001. A black and white photograph of a young lady sitting in a lounge chair.(miss) lil willaton, (mrs) lil stephenson, entertainer, singers, teacher, gymnastics, calesthenics, (miss) lille louisa willaton, (mrs) lille louisa stephenson, box hill cemetery), lille street, union road

Lil was born in Long Gully, Bendigo in 1904 daughter of Herbert Charles Leopold Willaton and Lillie Jenkins. She had 3 brothers and 3 sisters, one brother dying in infancy. The family lived in Lille Street, Surrey Hills. Both her parents and one sister died in Surrey Hills. In the 1920s Lil gained her A.L.C.M. (Australian London College of Music) in singing and made a career of teaching gymnastics with calisthenics, rhythmic movement etc. She arranged the music and lyrics for items and also designed the costumes, as well as conducting the physical training which culminated in annual concerts held in Box Hill and other town halls. Lil married Leslie Reginald Stephenson in 1934 and they lived at 36 Union Road, Surrey Hills. She died in July 1995 and is buried in Buried Box Hill Cemetery - CE-126-0001. A black and white photograph of a young lady dressed in a graduation gown and wearing a mortarboard on her head.(miss) lil willaton, (mrs) lil stephenson, entertainers, singers, gymnastics, calesthenics, teacher, lille street, union road, (miss) lille louisa willaton, (mrs) lille louisa stephenson, box hill cemetery

Miss Lillie Louisa (Lil) Willaton, and her callisthenics students in 1930s celebrating during competitions in Ballarat in which they were successful. Lil held weekly classes in Surrey Hills, Box Hill and nearby suburbs for a number of decades. Students include Nancy Scott, Nancy Hayes, Sylvia McGill and Vera Willaton. Lil was born in Long Gully, Bendigo in 1904 daughter of Herbert Charles Leopold Willaton and Lillie Jenkins. She had 3 brothers and 3 sisters, one brother dying in infancy. The family lived in Lille Street, Surrey Hills. Both her parents and one sister died in Surrey Hills. In the 1920s Lil gained her A.L.C.M. (Australian London College of Music) in singing and made a career of teaching gymnastics with calisthenics, rhythmic movement etc. She arranged the music and lyrics for items and also designed the costumes, as well as conducting the physical training which culminated in annual concerts held in Box Hill and other town halls. Lil married Leslie Reginald Stephenson in 1934 and they lived at 36 Union Road, Surrey Hills. She died in July 1995 and is buried in Buried Box Hill Cemetery - CE-126-0001. A black and white photograph of a group of girls posing for a photograph around a monument. They are all dressed in similar clothing of light coloured skirts / shorts and shirt, and wearing hats. The lady in the centre is wearing a darker coloured suit.(miss) lil willaton, callisthenics, (ms) nancy scott, (ms) nancy hayes, (ms) sylvia mcgill, (ms) vera willaton, (miss) lille louisa willaton, (mrs) lille louisa stephenson, (mrs) lil stephenson, teacher, gymnastics, box hill cemetery, lille street, union road