The coach of the Taree PCYC group left the area, meaning cheerleading's future in the area looked grim.

"Without a coach, we wouldn't have cheer leading here,'' Courtney explained.

So the 16-year-olds stepped up to the mark and took the job on between them. Courtney concedes it was something of a daunting prospect.

"Some of the people we're coaching are older than us, so that can be a bit scary,'' she explained.

And neither had any previous coaching experience in cheer leading.

"I've coached nippers, but no, before this year, not cheer leading,'' Courtney said.

However, they're quick learners and their fellow cheerleaders worked with them. So-much-so that this weekend they're off to Melbourne for the Australian championships, having qualified from the State titles held in Sydney.

There are two groups the juniors for 10 to 15-year-olds and seniors for 10 to 20-year olds. Three are 13 in the juniors and 19 in the seniors.

"Some of the juniors are in both groups,'' Courtney explains.

The groups train for two hours a week at the PCYC. The juniors finished third at State 'a big deal' according to Courtney, while the seniors were fifth and that was good enough to get them to Melbourne.

Training has stepped up since the State and the groups are determined to put in a show at the championships. Courtney isn't predicting they'll finish among the major place getters.

"But I'm sure we'll do pretty well,'' she said.

"It's a pretty big achievement just to qualify.''

She's been cheerleading for three years and was talked into taking it up by Hannah. Both agree they enjoy the challenge both the mental and physical, and quickly add it's a great way to keep fit.

And both are happy that they they don't have to worry about the logistical part of the sojourn to Melbourne, like flights and accommodation, so they can concentrate on preparing the two groups.

Anyone keen to find out more information about cheerleading can contact Taree PCYC.