Bundaberg’s best woman coach 2024: Gabi Bannerman

Bundaberg Dance Academy’s Gabi Bannerman has been voted the Best Female Coach in Bundaberg 2024. Read the secret to her success and who made the top three.

Gabi Bannerman has wanted to teach children dance forever and is living her dream with Bundaberg Dance Academy. Now she has been voted Bundy’s favourite woman coach 2024 by NewsMail readers.

After hundreds of comments, dozens of nominations and days of voting, Gabi Bannerman of the Bundaberg Dance Academy has been voted Bundaberg’s favourite woman coach of 2024.

A delighted Mrs Bannerman was in disbelief that she had been voted number one, taking 21 per cent of the votes in the poll.

Taking second place was triathlon coach Rebecca Amy Jenner, who garnered 15 per cent of the vote, and coming in third was The Waves Netball Club coach Sharyn Batt, with 8 per cent of the vote.

Mrs Bannerman danced most of her childhood and said she dreamt of teaching her own students one day.

Gabi Bannerman has wanted to teach children dance forever and is living her dream with BDA.

“This is what I get to call ‘my job’ and I love it so much, so it’s nice to know that I’m making a positive impact,” she said this week.

“I started out at BDA nearly 10 years ago, assisting Peta-Maree Jacobson in any class I could.

“I learnt so much while assisting and gained my dance teaching certificate with ATOD and have loved every minute of being at BDA,” she said.

“I love watching students gain new skills and self-confidence.”

“Seeing how proud they are of themselves is truly the best feeling as their dance coach,” Mrs Bannerman said.

Having her own twin daughters, Mrs Bannerman’s passion for dance has extended to them.

“My girls love to dance. And it’s really fun getting to share something that we all love together.

“My favourite style to teach is tap but my favourite to choreograph is jazz.

“I love teaching the technique of tap and watching students learn to make their own rhythms.

“It can be quite tricky for young ones so the reward when they get it is amazing. But I have so much fun choreographing jazz routines.”

The Waves Netball Club coach Sharyn Batt, who came in third in the poll with 8 per cent of the vote. Photo:Vince Habermann/NewsMail

Mrs Bannerman said it was hard to pinpoint her favourite memory working at BDA, saying every part of her job was her favourite.

“Every year I meet new faces and at the end of the year concert I feel like a proud mum to a bunch of children.

“They all surprise me so much, and it’s an honour to have helped get them to that point. So I could never pick a favourite one moment because I love every single part.”

Originally published as Bundaberg’s best woman coach 2024: Gabi Bannerman