Hastie (15), a pupil at Otago Girls High School, was a member of the New Zealand Rhythmic Gymnastic team at the Australian championships where she qualified in two apparatus finals.
Another highlight was to win the Level 8 Rhythmic title at the New Zealand championships in Hamilton in September. This included gold medals in the rope and ribbon disciplines.
Hastie, a disciplined gymnast, trains 15 hours a week. She also shares her knowledge and passion for the sport with a group of six talented young gymnasts whom she coaches.
Gymnastics is not a well-funded sport and Hastie works part time to help fund her travel to competitions and expenses for equipment.
"I enjoy performing and being able to design my own leotards,"she said.
"I like travelling in and outside New Zealand in my sport. I try to pick up new skills and gain more knowledge by watching other competitors in action and add new moves to my own routines."
Hastie is not old, but is certainly experienced, because gymnasts start the sport at a young age.
"It is a fun and enjoyable sport," she said.
"You can never get bored as there are always new moves and skills to learn and to perfect."
Hastie has reached one pinnacle, but there are still other milestones to achieve as a competitor.
Her next goal is to trial for the New Zealand team that will compete at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.
Hastie praised her coach Hooper and was pleased that she was named the Otago Coach of the Year. Hooper (27), a restaurant supervisor, is coach for the Greater Green Island Rhythmic Club.
The highlight of her year was to coach the New Zealand Rhythmic team at the Australian championships at Adelaide.
She also organised a club trip for her senior gymnasts to the Queensland State championships in Brisbane.
Hooper was the Otago coach at this year's New Zealand championships when Hastie won her gold medal. This was the second gold medal won by one of her individual gymnasts.
Nicole Maley won the level 9 title in Christchurch last year. She has also coached two Otago groups to teams gold medals at national championships.
"I love rhythmic gymnastics. It's a passion," she said.
"I was basically born in the gym and have never left and will continue as long as I can. Sport develops a lot of skills that will be required later in life. It keeps the children busy and active and it's so much fun."
Nola Paterson, the patron of the Dunedin Gymnastic Centre, was named the Volunteer of the Year.
She runs classes for school groups throughout Dunedin and leads weekly Play Gym classes for pre-schoolers and their parents and caregivers.
She has organised many sessions for visiting kindergartens, preschools, playcentres and Plunket groups.
"My aim is to encourage each child, irrespective of ability, to enjoy and gain confidence while developing a healthy attitude towards physical activity," she said.
A second edition of her book about how to make equipment for Play Gym activities from junk throwaways is ready to be printed.
Her countless volunteer hours, resource sage advice and historical knowledge make her a highly treasured volunteer in the sport.
"I enjoy watching the children develop their physical co-ordination through fun gymnastic-based activities and grow in confidence," she said.
"I believe the fundamental movement pattern skills children learn through gymnastics will help them continue to participate in sports and lead to an active life."
