WHAT do Australian Idol runner-up Anthony Callea, TV personalities Denise Drysdale and Patti Newton, Choir of Hard Knocks director Doctor Jonathon Welch and even Cardinal George Pell have in common?They’ve all performed at the Royal South Street Society eisteddfod.A “Pride in Performance” exhibition of the past 120 years of the competition – which began as a debating contest in 1879 – was launched at the Gold Museum yesterday by Dr Welch, who was a Herald Sun Aria finalist in 1984.“This eisteddfod has been a wonderful springboard for so many musicians, singers, actors and performers in Australia,” Dr Welch said.“South Street is so professionally run and maintained to the highest standards so it attracts the highest competitors too.“It gave me an opportunity to work on a professional stage under the highest performance conditions.”Gold Museum manager/curator Roger Trudgeon said the museum worked with community groups to highlight their activities and achievements. “South Street started in a modest way but very rapidly became a huge part of the social fabric of Ballarat,” he said.The exhibition runs until January 29 next year.