Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008

Welcome Getting Involved Continued Whats Happening ‐ Girls only grid at Aussie Junior MX Championship

‐ Gold is our women's best friend ‐ Coast girls grapple for world sumo title

‐ PISBTW Surfing for Girls presented by BILLABONG ‐ Women’s Homeless World Cup ‐ Fox Soccer Channel to show women’s league ‐ Mums’ Tennis Program ‐ Women join Aussie soccer's never‐ending roll Events / Sports and Industry Updates ‐ Women lead charge to sporting life ‐ 2008 Women in Basketball Luncheon & Awards ‐ Body image ‐ Top AFL Victoria Youth Girls honoured in 2008 ‐ New Ideas for the 21st : how to coax more women into sport ‐ 2009 Australian Women’s Open ‐ First two women accepted as riders in Vienna's Spanish Riding ‐ Level 1 Boxing Coach Course

School ‐ "Women as Leaders in Sport" Networking Program

‐ Equal prize money at Aspen Winter X Games ‐ Women in sport leadership roles : Clearing Hurdles ‐ ICC’s Women’s Rankings Athlete Profiles ‐ Women in Beijing 2008 Paralympics ‐ Gillespie crowned Australian Women’s Getting Involved Champions ‐ Fair go for fairer sex is latest AFL marker ‐ Brooke begins Andorran adventure ‐ AFL Victoria seeking Youth Girls Teams for 2009 ‐ 2008 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards

‐ Girls catch a new direction ‐ Harriet Brown – Surf Life Saving

‐ Women’s Sport and Recreation Initiative Grants

Welcome Top

Welcome to the second edition of WISe‐news. In this edition, we look at what is happening with regards to women in sport, we highlight sports and explain how you can get further involved. We also showcase female athletes who are excelling in their choose sport.

If you are yet to add your details to the WISe‐news distribution list, please forward your contact details to [email protected] to receive the next edition. It is also appreciated if you can help spread the word and forward WISe‐ news on to other colleagues, clubs, additional contacts and friends. For future editions, if you wish to contribute information or relevant stories to the newsletter, email them through as they come to hand. I look forward to working with you all and keeping you up to date with women’s sport information.

WISe‐news is currently distributed quarterly however we require feedback on how often you wish to receive WISe‐news, what stories and articles you wish to read and the type of information you as readers wish to submit. Your comments are valued and will be taken into consideration before the next publication currently due in February 2009.

Whats Happening Top

Gold is our women's best friend

They are Australia's most successful Olympians, they win gold in disproportionate numbers and never more so than at the Beijing Games. Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates can't quite identify why it is that the female members of the team, who make up only 46 per cent of the 433‐strong contingent outperforming men in overall medals 23‐22 with one equestrian medal shared by both sexes.

All he knows is that it is not a fluke. Beijing is no aberration, "It's more than cycles," Coates said yesterday. "It's consistent and it's impressive. There has been a single‐mindedness perhaps that has resulted in this success of our women over generations now. It's quite amazing."

Of the 204 nations competing in Beijing, Australia is one of only a dozen whose women are outdoing their male team‐mates. That's a giant tick for the land down under as far as Coates is concerned. "I'd like to think it's a good reflection on our society, something we should be proud of, that clearly there are these equal opportunities for women and have been since World War II," Coates said. "For all of our sports, I'd like to think we treat male and female equally and give them equal opportunities and that wouldn't be the case elsewhere, I suppose." 1

Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 Despite the fact that it is only in recent Games that the women's Olympic program has even approached the size of the men's, Australia's women make it to the victory podium. Aside from Ian Thorpe, who tops the list with nine medals, all the leading Australian medal‐winners at the Olympics are women Dawn Fraser, Petria Thomas, Susie O'Neill and Leisel Jones, all with eight, with Shirley Strickland running hot on their heels with seven. And of the 16 Australians who have won three or more Olympic gold, 10 are women.

True, the competition for men's medals tends to be larger. As of Day 13 of the Beijing Olympics, 63 countries had won medals in men's events, only 56 countries in women's. Certainly the fact that most Muslim countries send no more than token women's teams, if any at all, also takes some of the sting out of women's events, particularly on the track. But the most popular explanation for the superior performance of Australia's women at the Games is that the country's best female athletes tend to be channelled into Olympic sports, netball the obvious exception, while only a fraction of the best male athletes wear the Olympic rings, the majority end up playing a football code or .

Anthony Koutoufides was a champion hurdler and high jumper before pulling on the Carlton jumper, Nic Fosdike used to be a champion 1500m runner before running half‐marathons every time he plays for the Swans, while Wallabies Test centre Ryan Cross used to toss heavy metal balls around as a shot putter before taking to slamming the All Blacks into the turf.

“In our society, you have to wear that," said Coates, referring to the massive drain of talent from Olympic sports to professional football. "I don't think as a society we've got to object to the fact that basketballers are flowing over to AFL. That's a choice that they make. All our sports can do is to try to attract the appropriate people and to then nurture that talent and keep it in the sport." ‐ Source: (21/08/08) The Australian, Wayne Smith

Women’s Homeless World Cup Top

(27/08/2008) Eight nations and 100 women from Cameroon, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Kyrgzstan, Uganda, Zambia, Liberia and Paraguay will compete to become the first time champions at the Homeless World Cup (HWC) to be held from December 1‐7 at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr. The HWC aims to use football to energise women who are currently homeless to create the opportunity to change their own lives. It looks to counter the effects of homelessness, encourage the development of community female leadership and increase the capacity for income generation through the creation of social projects.

In previous competitions women have made up approximately 10% of the players and created significant change in their lives. Katie Eyles played for Australia in the Edinburgh 2005 tournament and says the tournament helped to turn her life around. “It’s really cool to see more women getting involved with football. President of the HWC Mel Young said that the HWC has demonstrated that sport has tremendous power to change lives, to change the world.

By utilising female participation in football as a catalyst for economic opportunity, leadership, and empowerment. Organisers will 1) provide opportunities for individual empowerment to counter the effects of homelessness and exclusion; 2) encourage the development of community female leadership; 3) increase the capacity for income generation through the creation of social projects. 4) Provide opportuntity for women to participate in the Women’s HWC, returning as changemakers.

This is the first time the Women’s Cup has been included and organisers would like to see it grow, involve many more nations, and see the women participating become change‐makers, ambassadors and inspirations within their communities.

To make a donation to the Women’s HWC visit www.globalgiving.com/womenscup or http://www.homelessworldcup.org/

Fox Soccer Channel to show women’s league Top

Women’s Professional Soccer, the new women’s league set to debut in April 2009, has finalized a three‐year with Fox Soccer Channel that will see a minimum of 20 regular‐season games aired on the network, the partnership will give WPS national coverage in 34 million homes through Fox Soccer’s exclusive WPS Game of the Week on Sunday evenings. You can also will see the postseason aired on Net.

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008

The deal represents a significant change in the value of women’s professional soccer on TV. Both WPS and Fox Soccer believe the deal can help them expand their demographic reach. For the WPS, it gives the league a chance to reach all soccer fans through a network with a predominately male, 18‐to‐49‐year‐old demographic that’s already interested in soccer. For Fox Soccer, it offers the chance to attract a female audience it might not reach otherwise and deepens their offering to soccer fans of all stripes. ‐ Source: Tripp Mickle (6/10/08) ‐ http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/60243

Women join Aussie soccer's never‐ending roll Top

Depsite Australia’s female soccer team failing to qualify for the Olympics, the Matildas have scored significant breakthroughs. Matildas recently won the ASEAN Football Federation championship in Vietnam, then wasting no time to be back in Australia for the start of the national competition, the W‐League.

As happened with cricket, they have become more formally aligned with the powerful men's game, and in a way that guarantees their exposure and credibility will be enhanced. The W‐League also has a commitment from ABC TV to televise one game live each week.

Almost as soon as the Rudd Government came to power, Sports Minister Kate Ellis made it clear that the perceived poor relations of the sporting family ‐ women, indigenous and disabled ‐ would receive a much better deal. True to her word, she gave Football Federation Australia $16 million over two years to fund the new league and to ensure it had TV coverage.

At a launch for the team, the State Government tipped in $160,000, taken from its $1.2 million Women in Sport package, to encourage grassroots participation. "Close to 7000 females are now playing organised football in Victoria," Sports Minister James Merlino said.

With a youth league also up and running, the FFA is well down the track with its concept of developing a "super club" structure. ‐

Source: Ron Reed (25/10/08) http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24548263‐2883,00.html

Women lead charge to sporting life Top

South Australian (SA) women have the highest sporting participation in the nation according to the latest Exercise, Recreation, and Sport Survey. SA’s are more active than they were six years ago and it is women who are leading the charge. More than 90% of SA females aged 15 to 24 participate in some form of organised sport or physical activity, the highest number of all the states, for either males or females ‐just six years ago, they had one of the lowest participation rates in the country.

While many SA women drop their enthusiasm for exercise in their late 20s and early 30s, with a participation rate of 80.3%, they regain it from the age of 35 onwards. From 35, women become – and remain – more active than men. In total, almost 81% of women and just under 78% of men are involved in some physical activity. This is a turnaround from the first survey, in 2001, which showed only 73% of women got physical compared to 76.6% of men.

Nationally, the report shows men – for whom heart disease and obesity‐related diseases are primary killers ‐ start dropping out of regular sports in their mid 20s and it is not until retirement age, from 65 onwards, that men rejoin the game in increased numbers.

Paul Anderson, Executive Director of the Office for Recreation and Sport, said the reason women were outstripping men was likely because of the introduction of more "fun" options at gyms, such as spin classes and kickboxing.

Source: 23/10/08 ‐ http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24539372‐2682,00.html

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008

Body image Lessons about body image should be as widely taught in schools as sex and drug education programs, an eating disorders group has advised. Concerns about appearance and weight are now so acute among girls aged 10 to 14, that fewer than one in six said they thought they looked "good".

"We are certainly becoming more aware that girls and boys are increasingly more concerned with their appearance and their body image" and "The more concerned a child is with their appearance, if those sorts of issues are not addressed, the more likely they are of growing into a teenager or adult and having severe body image problems” said Julie Thomson – General Manager of Butterfly Foundation

"It can go on to have a devastating impact on their lives. We know that those people who suffer eating disorders in general also suffer extremely low self‐esteem. There is certainly a connection”.

Butterfly Foundation’s Body Think program launched in 2006, has reached more than 28,000 young people, mostly in Victoria, where the Victorian Government in August committed $100,000 to the implementation of the workshop in schools. Ms Thomson said it was important for children to be educated in media literacy, particularly the way in which images are manipulated, with schools playing an important role in helping young people feel good about themselves.

"We know that kids are not going to stop reading magazines and watching telly. That is part of pop culture and growing up." Parents also need to be mindful of the language they use when they are describing themselves, and the sorts of magazines and television shows their children are being exposed to. Source: Caroline Marcus (28/09/08) ‐ http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/09/27/1222217588541.html

New Ideas for the 21st Century: how to coax more women into sport Top

Beijing 2008 shone an unprecedented light on female athletes. Usually women inspire little in the way of newspaper and television coverage but, with the amazing success of our female athletes, we saw weeks of sustained pictures and stories about women in sport. Now we need to look at how to transform the “Golden Games” for women into a lasting legacy for half the population.

We know that more than 80% of women don’t do enough physical activity to benefit their health, that 55% of women would exercise more if facilities were of a better quality and that 61% of women would be more active if there were more opportunities for families to exercise together. Only 36% of women enjoy the competitiveness of sport compared with 61% of men.

These statistics show us that selling the existing product harder won’t work. Policy makers and activity providers need to understand the specific needs of women and develop products and experiences that provide them with what they want. For women, sport is about health and social life – fun, family, flexibility. They have to fit sport and fitness into busy lives. Women expect the sort of high quality experience and good customer service that they enjoy in other environments, such as shopping. We need clean swimming pools, showers that work, better signposting and support so that whether someone is new to a sport or trying to move up to the next level, they can find what they are looking for and enjoy a welcome when they get there.

For schoolgirls, a key target group because if they are turned off sport it’s almost impossible to get them active later in life, a wider range of activities should be available and girls should be able to wear what they want. An initiative launced by Sport Unlimited aims to get more young people involved in sports that interest them most, hoping to have an impact on girls and encourage them to try new forms of activity.

A society needs to be created in which being active is attractive. We know that 40% of girls feel self‐conscious about their bodies in PE lessons, 26% of women hate the way they look when they are physically active and 68% believe that the media set an unrealistic standard of beauty. Can we create a new ideal of female beauty? The team of women medallists in Beijing have done a great job of providing a new set of role models. It has been wonderful to see fit, confident women being celebrated. It would be great to see the development

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 of policies to improve leadership, investment and profile. As set out in the WSFF Women in Sport audit, it’s an uneven playing field for men and women. Policies need to be clear, joined‐up and rooted in strong consumer insight; clear commitments and targets need to be made and progress measured. ‐ Source: (31/8/08), The Sunday Times by Sue Tibballs, Chief Executive of the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation.

First two women accepted as riders in Vienna's Spanish Riding School

Ending over 400 years of all‐male tradition, the Spanish Riding School in Vienna announced it had accepted two women as apprentices to train with its famous white Lippizaner horses. One month into their trial period, 21‐year‐old Austrian Hannah Zeitlhofer and 17‐year‐old Sojourner Morrell from Britain will spend the next three to five years as students of the dressage troupe before they can advance to become "candidate riders."

Whilst the organisation is rooted in male military tradition, as the horses' elaborate jumps and movements were originally developed for the battlefield, Zeitlhofer told Austrian news agency APA that she had heard no "stupid remarks directed against women" during her probation period.

The two apprentices will not only learn the school's traditional dressage techniques, but will also have to care for the horses and clean the stables in Vienna's city centre. Whilst there is a high drop out rate amongst students, the girls are determined to complete their apprenticeship. ‐ Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/237175,first‐two‐women‐accepted‐as‐ riders‐in‐viennas‐spanish‐riding‐school.html

Equal prize money at Aspen Winter X Games Top

After ongoing discussions with various women’s sports organisations, ESPN announced that January’s Winter X Games 13 in Aspen will include equal prize money for men and women. “For a network that prides itself as a leader in promoting women’s sports, the move was necessary”, Katie Moses Swope, director of public relations for both the Winter X Games and the X Games in Los Angeles said.

“Our executives have a great relationship with the Women’s Sports Foundation and Alliance,” Moses Swope said. “Over recent years, with the recent successes in women’s sport we decided to recognize their talent with an equal purse.” Moses Swope said the decision wasn’t influenced by other major sports events, instead was a conclusion that came after years of feedback from athletes and judges.

The decision is one that ESPN is excited about, Moses Swope said. She said the response on action sports websites and blogs has been overwhelmingly supportive. While ESPN hasn’t officially released how much its prize purses will be for Winter X Games at Buttermilk, male medal winners at the X Games in Los Angeles this summer earned prize cheque of $50,000.

The equal pay for prize money debate is one that transcends action sports and is one that ESPN has even brought attention to in its reporting on other major sporting events, such as professional golf and tennis. “This is a positive thing,” she said. “We felt we wanted to recognize the talent and the caliber of these athletes. You’re going to have differences in talent in the X Games, but how athletes have progressed in certain disciplines, that’s how we based our decision.” ‐ Source: Nate Peterson, The Aspen Times http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20081029/NEWS/810289923&parentprofile=search

ICC’s Women’s Rankings

Claire Taylor of , and Australia’s are on top of the world in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Women’s Rankings, launched in on 16 October 2008. The rankings have been introduced as part of the ICC’s continued promotion of women’s cricket, helping to identify where leading players stand in women’s international cricket, adding further competition and context to their achievements.

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 Thirty‐three‐year‐old Taylor spearheads a strong field of six England batters in the top 20 while fast bowler Jhulan leads the bowlers’ chart and Sthalekar is just ahead of her team‐mate in the all‐ rounders’ listing.

“These rankings are the authoritative player rating guide, the first of its kind, which will officially recognise the talent and achievements of the game’s leading players. Through the rankings system we envisage it playing an important role in making the profile of individual players more prominent and contribute to the expansion of the sport.” Sanjay Behl, head of Branding at Reliance Communications said.

Leading batter is one of 13 women cricketers to have played 100 or more ODIs and is the only female cricketer above the 800 ratings points mark. In women’s ranking terms, 800 points marks out a player as truly remarkable. Jhulan, the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2007, leads the bowling table from England’s and Shelley Nitschke of Australia.

Sthalekar says she is delighted to be on top of the all‐rounders’ rankings. “It’s great that the ICC is supporting women’s cricket through the launch of the player rankings. It will add interest to the women’s game and increase the profiles of the top players in the world providing greater exposure to the women’s cricket and hopefully more sponsorship opportunities.”

The next series to be played in a lead up to the ICC Women’s World Cup in March 2009 is the traditional Rose Bowl series between New Zealand and Australia in New Zealand from 1 to 12 February. 2009 will be huge for women’s cricket with the ICC Women’s World Cup to be played in , Australia, from 7 to 22 March. This will be the first time the biggest event in women’s cricket will be played under the banner of the ICC following the merger with the International Women’s Cricket Council.

In June, England will host the ICC World in England which includes a men’s and women’s competition running simultaneously. The semi‐finals and final of the women’s event will be played at the same venue on the same day as the men’s tournament. ‐ Source: 16/10/08 ‐ http://icc‐cricket.yahoo.com/wwc‐2009/wwc‐news/2008/october/wwc‐news20081016‐4.html

Women in Beijing 2008 Paralympics Top

In the past and when Paralympic Sport was introduced in Great Britain by Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, it was mainly geared toward men affected by World War II. Women were not part of the main set of soon‐to‐be athletes. But as time progressed and technology became an immense enhancer of result, the number of women participating in Paralympic Sport skyrocketed.

The International Paralympic Committee’s website showcases a good chance of seeing a good balance of men and women athletes. This is due to accurate representation and the clear sign that women are finding their way to different Paralympic sports.

At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, a total of 1,380 women competed in events totalling 35% of all athletes at the Games, a four percent increase from 2004 Paralympic Games and an even larger jump from the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, when the women athletes made up 24% of the total number (790 out of 3,259).

Another important element in the progress of women in Paralympic Sport is the media coverage. The importance of providing equal profiling, and therefore visible role models and increased spectator appeal cannot be forgotten. At the Paralympic Games in Beijing the amount of media that has taken over the city because of this event is another sign of progress. The more the world sees, the more it will continue to grow and be stronger in the future.

Source: http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Current_Affairs/2008_09_12_b.html

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008

Getting Involved

Fair go for fairer sex is latest AFL marker

AFL Victoria is trying to make local football clubs more welcoming to women with a new respect and responsibility project. Representatives from Mernda, South Morang juniors and Eltham juniors were the first to take part in the Fair Game, Respect Matters Program launched 15th October, 2008. The remaining Northern Football League (NFL) clubs will take part in the VicHealth funed program in the off season.

Attitudes towards women in the NFL will be compared with attitudes from the Essendon District Football League in 2009. If successful, AFL Victoria hopes to implement across the state. Chyloe Kurdas from AFL Victoria believes that little things can make a club more welcoming for women including installation of shower curtains, recruiting women to board and coaching panels or looking at ways alcohol is used at social functions.

There are currently 23,000 accredited female coaches and 50,000 female volunteers at local club level and almost 20% of Auskick participants are girls and 526 teens play in AFL Victoria’s Youth Girls Competition.

Chyloe hopes to see more women become invovled in footy clubs and the women that currently are involved in footy clubs find it a more supportive place to be. ‐ Source: Herald Sun, 16/10/08 – Amelia Harris

AFL Victoria Seeking Youth Girls Teams for 2009 Top

The Youth Girls competition is all about fun, fitness, friendship through football in a family friendly environment. It is a community football competition specifically designed to promote a female football friendly environment for girls aged between 13 and 18 years, throughout Victoria.

The competition is managed by AFL Victoria and supported by local councils, the AFL, VicHealth and the Department of Sport and Recreation Victoria, providing girls the opportunity to play in a real football competition. It welcomes teams and players from all schools, football clubs and leagues and all girls wishing to have a go at footy in their very own competition.

The program comprises of: • A structured competition – a weekly competition played over 14 weeks • A fun atmosphere – the emphasis of Youth Girls is on fun, friendship and fitness to develop football skills • Flexibility – no prior experience is needed, many participants did not participate in either AusKick or junior club football • Convenient – All games are played at a central venue decreasing the amount of travel for families • Coaching – each Youth Girls team is required to have at least one coach who is accredited at a minimum Level 1 • Membership – each player is a member of their club and AFL Victoria • Cost – The cost of the club membership is determined by individual clubs and includes insurance Benefits of Youth Girls for football clubs • Retain junior girls and their families for longer (4 years) • Increased membership and volunteer base • Greater diversity in membership and inclusive club environment Benefits for players and their families • Fun, Fitness and Friendship • Participation pathway from Auskick to Seniors • Continuing to participate in sport and play in team sports • Opportunity to represent club, league and state, join Youth Girls Academy • Improved relationship between daughters & fathers (Deakin Uni ‘04) and Family bonding For more information on the Youth Girls program contact: Chyloe Kurdas ‐ Female Football Development Manager AFL Victoria ‐ b: 03 8663 3042, m: 0418 572 902, e: [email protected]

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 Girls catch a new direction Top

In the past five years, cricket’s participation numbers have risen by about 11.5% a year and in the past three years, the number is closer to 13%. chairman Jack Clarke believes the foundations are in place to see women's cricket get the recognition it deserves.

''Cricket doesn't have that tradition yet, where netball and swimming for example, those sports have the long tradition of being women's sports, but I do think cricket is starting to get that tradition and the world is catching up as well. England have got a fantastic side, India were runners‐up at the last World Cup, and New Zealand have always been competitive.

The World Cup in March is going to give the women's game the boost it needs. Clarke said there was still a long way to go until women's cricket received the recognition it deserved, but Australian captain , whose statistics Clarke describes as ''Bradmanesque'', said the game was on the right track.

Ellyse Perry, who has represented Australia in cricket and soccer, has seen how junior sport programs can influence development. She said Australian culture made junior sport competitive, but believed Cricket Australia had the right programs in place to ensure women's cricket continued to grow.

Ellyse believes Cricket Australia has some great grassroots programs, and there are some great opportunities for kids to get involved with cricket. ''I think that speaks volumes it's one of the most popular sports in Australia, and I think Cricket Australia is doing enough to make sure that continues.''

In the lead up to March, Australian schools are invited to join in the fun and celebrate the 2009 ICC Women’s World Cup through Cricket Australia’s Education Program. Source: Kyle Mackey‐Laws (09/11/08), http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/Cricket/girls‐catch‐a‐new‐ direction/1355615.aspx?src=email

The 2009 program is: • Free of charge and downloadable from www.cricket.com.au from October 2008 • Aimed at upper primary and/or lower secondary schools • Relevant to curriculum framework learning outcomes across a variety of key learning areas • Provide students with an opportunity to showcase work and publicly celebrate the 2009 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. For further information or to register your schools interest, contact [email protected]

Women’s Sport and Recreation Initiative Top

The City of Casey is working in partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria to develop and implement a place based pilot program, as part of the Women’s Sport and Recreation Initiative.

The project is aimed at increasing the level of participation of teenage girls aged between 12 – 18 years, and mothers up to the age of 25 years in sport and active recreation. The Initiative involves several components including marketing and promotion of new and existing sport and active recreation activities to young women in the Cranbourne community. It also focuses on empowering these women by offering training, leadership and mentoring opportunities.

The City of Casey is seeking to work in partnership with State Sporting Associations, local sporting clubs and schools to help deliver tailored sporting, active recreation and skill based programs for these groups of young women. Tennis Victoria and AFL Victoria are currently working with the City of Casey to deliver women’s sporting programs in the Cranbourne area. The aim is to provide low cost, accessible, sustainable and fun programs that can be promoted throughout the municipality.

The Women’s Sport and Recreation Initiative will be launched in Cranbourne on Wednesday 4 February, 2009, where a variety of activities available for young women to try on the day.

To find out more or create a partnership with the City of Casey’s Women’s Sport and Recreation Initiative please contact Honesty Mason – Women’s Sport and Recreation Project Officer on 9705 5200 or email [email protected].

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008

Girls only grid at Aussie Junior MX Championship

For the first time the Australian Junior Motocross Championship has expanded to include races specifically for female riders. The Championship was held at Pinjar Park, Western Australia from 28 September to 3 October 2008. As part of the long term objective to increase the number of women involved in motorcycling. Motorcycling Australia has adopted the recommendation from the Women’s Commission to include classes dedicated to female racers in the ‐ Female 85cc 2 stroke & 150cc 4 stroke (Standard & Big Wheel) 12 to under 16 years and ‐ Female 125cc 2 stroke & 250cc 4 stroke Solo 13 to under 16 years. Commission chairperson, Jennifer Ballard, believes the new classes will offer junior riders the opportunity to compete with their peers and heralds the beginning of a commitment to developing the calibre of women’s racing. “Motocross is a discipline that has a strong following with girls and recognising the effort the junior riders make to compete is a positive step towards increasing participation levels,” says Ballard.

“Previously only the Senior Women’s Motocross Champion was able to claim the number one plate, now the same opportunity exists amongst the junior girls.”

Further information can be found at the Motorcycling Australia website at www.ma.org.au/2008jmx or the Wanneroo Junior Motocross Club site www.wjmc.org.au

Female Rider Grant Scheme: With two new all female classes announced Motorcycling Australia (MA) also offered girls the opportunity to apply for financial assistance to compete at the Championship. The Grant is part of MA’s and the Women’s Commission ongoing support for female participation in motorcycling.

Source: 06/08/08 ‐ http://www.ma.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=News12&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=25213

Coast girls grapple for world sumo title Top

They are large, in charge and ready to take on the world's top sumo wrestling champions. Six Gold Coast athletes packed their bags to represent Australia at the world championships in Estonia in October. Three teenage girls competed at the first Junior Women's World Sumo Championships. At 14, Samantha‐Jane Stacey was the team's strongest medal hopeful with two years of sumo training and nine years of wrestling training under her traditional mawashi sumo belt.

Samantha‐Jane, 130kg, competed in the junior women's heavyweight division with sisters Kelsie and Vanessa Homer competed in the middle (under 75kg) and light (under 60kg) divisions. "I love it because it's a physical, body‐contact sport but you've also got to use your brain and have mental tactics," said Samantha‐Jane.

It's a perfect sport for girls because you have to think on your feet." Katrina Watt, president of the Australian Sumo Federation, said the sport was gaining momentum in Australia, “The sport has great appeal because its full body contact but you don't punish your opponent," she said. "Instead you need balance, flexibility and body strength and that has attracted new converts from judo, wrestling and gymnastics."

Ms Watts was confident the Aussie team will stand proudly among the world's top amateur sumo wrestlers. "The Eastern Europeans are very strong but we have got a great team who are very enthusiastic," she said.

As for Samantha‐Jane, her dream is one day to see sumo wrestling entered as an sport. "I am so proud to represent my country and I want to keep doing it," she said.

Source: Leah Fineran, 20/09/08 ‐ http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/09/20/16548_gold‐coast‐lead‐story.html

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 Play it Safe by the Water (PISBTW) Surfing for Girls presented by BILLABONG

PISBTW Surfing for Girls presented by Billabong is a program aimed at the female surfer who has passed through the ‘learn to surf stage’ and who has their own equipment, i.e. surfboard and wetsuit. It just above an introductory learn to surf class. All participants are expected to be able to swim 200 meters and it is recommended that participants have the basic surfing skills of being able to catch and ride an unbroken wave; in saying this however, beginners can be catered for.

It is a skill development program that aims to help female surfers become more competent in the open ocean environment and has a goal to help young surfers develop strategies that will help them be safe in the ocean this summer and become better surfers.

The aim of the PISBTW Surfing for Girls days is to use positive female role models and the professional surf coaches from Surfing Victoria to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation of female surfers.

Registration Fee is $20 and includes an all day Surf Lesson, Billabong t‐shirt, Play it Safe by the Water and supporting sponsor show bags. Head to the Surfing Victoria events page on website (www.surfingaustralia.com) to register or contact Surfing Victoria on 03 52 612 907 or email [email protected]

The emphasis in this program is to help young surfers make decisions that will allow them to be safe in the surf.

The program invovles: ‐ General warm up ‐ Talk on dangers and risk management for the session. ‐ Negotiating the surf session ‐ Basic beach rescue ‐ Surf skills and fun session with the role models and coaches.

Mums’ Tennis Program Top

One of the most successful programs coordinated by Tennis Victoria is the Mums’ Tennis Program, which has recently been recognised by the Federal Government, who will provide funds to coordinate a further 160 programs over the next 18 months with Tennis Victoria affiliates.

The Mums’ Tennis Program is a five‐week subsidised coaching program coordinated by Tennis Victoria. The program is open to players of all standards from absolute beginners through to those who have played tennis previously and would like to get back into the game. Conducted by qualified coaches, the program is great for health, fun, fitness and gives mums a chance to meet and socialise with other mums in the local area.

All tennis racquets and balls are supplied and the cost for participants is only $15 for five weeks. A program run in conjunction with the Mums’ Tennis program is the Tiny Tots Program, a new initiative based on feedback received from participants which highlighted a lack of available childcare as a barrier to be involved in the Mums’ Tennis Program. The Tiny Tots program aims to eliminate this barrier for mums with the program aiming to develop children’s fundamental motor skills such as hand‐eye coordination, balance, depth perception and reflexes. The cost of the Tiny Tots Program is only $10 for the five weeks.

The Mums’ Tennis Program runs in terms one, two and four each year. The starting date for Term One 2009 is Monday 9 February, with approximately 38 clubs from around Victoria participating in the program. More information can be found on the Programs page of the Tennis Victoria website www.tennis.com.au/vic or by contacting the participation department on 84208420.

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 Events / Sports and Industry Updates

VicSport have set up a Women in Sport Events page. This site is updated on a weekly basis so if you wish to see what events are occuring in Victoria or wish to showcase upcomings events, go to http://www.vicsport.asn.au/events/ for more information.

2008 Women in Basketball Luncheon & Awards

Basketball Victoria celebrated the achievements of women in sport at the 2008 Annual Women in Basketball Luncheon on October 17 where Margaret DeGoumois of Kilsyth was announced winner of the 2008 Advancing Women in Basketball Award.

Over 130 women from a cross‐section of the basketball community attended the successful luncheon with Guest Speaker Louise Sauvage OAM, Olympic & Paralympic Champion and interviewees Marian Stewart 15yr Team Manager of the Australian Opals and Glider Bronze Medallist Kathleen O’Kelly‐Kennedy.

Former Australian Opals Legend Michele Timms shared her Olympic experiences as MC for the day and presented the Annual Advancing Women in Basketball Award to Margaret DeGoumois of Kilsyth.

Margaret has led the way for women in basketball by being the first to successfully lobby the government for child care facilities at her association allowing more women to play our sport during the day.

Finalists for 2008 included Elthams Lorraine Harris, Anne Cousens from Warrandyte, Lorraine Kapnoullas from Diamond Valley and Kim Rossetti of Blackburn. For information on the event, contact Fiona Kuilboer on 99276666 or email: [email protected]

Top AFL Victoria Youth Girls honoured in 2008 Top

AFL Victoria has recognised the best junior female footballers in the state in front of 194 family and supporters at the 2008 AFL Victoria Youth Girls presentation night on Saturday, October 11 at the Manningham Club in Bulleen. Each of the four Youth Girls leagues – South‐Eastern, Northern, Western and Bendigo – presented their best and fairest and runner‐up awards as well as their leading goal kickers for 2008.

Best and Fairest winners 2008: South‐Eastern ‐ Amy Decker (Berwick) 24 votes Northern – Yasmin Speekman (Jacana) 15 votes Western – Brooke Surgeon (Sunbury) 18 votes Bendigo – Rachel Simmons (Jacana) 14 votes

Further awards were presented to: ‐ Courtney Clarkson as the state’s leading goal kicker who booted 58 goals for Berwick in the South‐East Youth Girls competition. ‐ Noble Park (South‐Eastern), St Damian’s (Northern), Melbourne University Under‐17s (Western) and Marong (Bendigo) for each league’s Best Conducted Club. Each round, umpires rated players, spectators and officials’ behaviour out of five and dealings with AFL Victoria were taken into consideration.

Congratulations to all winners and for the announcement of the squad for the Victorian Youth Girls Academy. For further enquiries, contact Travis Parnaby, AFL Victoria, 8663 3069, 0433 580 114.

Level 1 Boxing Coach Course Top

The Level 1 Boxing Coach Course is on 29th November at 10.a.m. at Footscray Youth Centre, Hoadley Crescent Footscray. Contact Beau Gerring on 93146816 to register or express your interest.

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 2009 Australian Women’s Open Top

The 2009 Australian Women’s Open will run from Thursday 12 – Friday 15 February, 2009 at the magnificent Metropolitan Golf Club. Contact Louise MacDonald on 03 9524 7606 or [email protected] for more information or visit www.womensgolf.org.au to register online.

"Women as Leaders in Sport" Networking Program

Expressions of interest are being sought for females to participate in the newly created Cricket Victoria ‘Women as Leaders in Sport' Networking Program workshops.

These workshops will help Cricket Victoria build on its commitment to increase the participation and contribution of women in cricket across the State. Female participants will be given the opportunity to develop their management and communication skills while also learning of the challenges in governance and administration from elite to community sport.

These workshops will give participants the tools to become more effective leaders, communicators, administrators and networkers in the sporting environment. As a result of Cricket Victoria's ‘Women as Leaders in Sport' Networking Program, participants will build confidence, accelerate career progress, improve business and community relationships, learn new skills, increase motivation and build strong networks. Participants will also increase their understanding of sports business, corporate and political landscapes.

The impact of females going back to their clubs and associations will go a long way to changing the perception that cricket is only a sport for males. You will be able to share your knowledge with other females and feel confident to make a contribution at all levels: cricket boards and committees as well as coaching, umpiring and officiating. Your ability to add a female perspective on decisions being made will definitely add to the inclusiveness of cricket as a community.

Complete and submit your registration/interest via http://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/form/women_as_leaders_in_sport.html.

Women in sport leadership roles : Clearing Hurdles Top

Want to help Sport and Recreation’s understanding and the future of women progressing through the ranks as coaches, officials and administrators/ Board members/ facility managers in regional sport? Are you an elite‐level female coach, official or sport administrator?

Victoria University (VU) is conducting research, funded by the Department of Planning and Community Development (SRV,) into women in advanced administration, coaching and officiating roles in sport. The project is titled 'Clearing Hurdles' and has the support of a number of sports to date.

The sessions will provide a great opportunity to meet women, who are dealing with similar issues to you, have a guided discussion about how you got to where you are now. An opportunity to catch up is also provided at the end of the evening.

Our research has identified that women often don't perceive themselves as 'leaders' even though they hold responsible positions in sport, and often the tap on the shoulder and 'I think you have something to contribute to this " is great recognition.

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 Focus Group sessions are all held at Victoria University, Footscray Park Campus: Coaches: Thursday 4 December from 6.30pm Administrators: Tuesday 9 December from 3.30pm Officials: Tuesday 9 December from 6.30pm

For further information please contact LENORA SUNDSTROM at VICTORIA UNIVERSITY ‐ Phone: (03) 9919 4066 or email: [email protected] ASAP

Athlete Profiles Top

Gillespie crowned Australian Women’s Motocross Champions

Racer, Kristy Gillespie, lives just over the border in Albury, has dominated the Womens Motocross scene in Australia this year, with her maiden Australian Womens Motocross Championship the jewel in the crown. She also won the Victorian Womens Motocross Championship, winning every race in the series, and won 36 of the 37 races she entered this year across Victoria.

Kristy started riding bikes at a young age thanks to the involvement of her family, particularly her brothers. Once she started riding competitively it didn’t take long for her to shine.

She finished third in the 2005 Australian Womens Motocross Championship as a 17 year old and a year later won her first Victorian Womens Motocross Championship. In 2006 she again finished third in the Australian Womens Motocross Championship, but has major success on the other side of the Tasman winning the 2006 New Zealand Womens Motocross Championship at just 18 years of age.

In 2008, in a hard fought battle to the end, Kristy claimed the Australian Women’s Motocross Championship title, with GMR Motorex KTM Racing as the final round took to Lake Macquarie NSW.

Going into the final round of the 2008 Women’s Motocross Championship, Gillespie and KTM had an eight point advantage over riders Ashlea Bates and Adelia Barton all eager for the win the title. At the start gate in the final moto, Gillespie currently leading by 15 points, was in the right frame of mind to win and not wanting to settle for second.

Gillespie and Bates battled through every section, with Gillespie experiencing a huge adrenaline rush as she rode past the chequered flag! Finally after three years she had broken her third place result to bring home the Australian Women’s Motocross Championship for KTM.

“The first person I hugged was my dad and then my mechanic who have been there for me at every round. I was quite emotional because mum is in hospital and we spoke to her on the phone and she started crying and that set me off, but they were tears of joy.

“My race team manager, Glenn MacDonald handed me the number one plate that I will now ride with, and I could see in his eyes that he had shared every moment of that race with me. Glenn has been my mentor and trainer through this entire Women’s Championship, and without his support I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

“It’s been an awesome ride with KTM, and I know racing is predominantly a mans sport, but I’m thankful for KTM supporting women’s racing as well, and for the organisers involving women in a male driven sport.”

Kristy’s victory in the 2008 Victorian Womens Motocross Championship was her third successive title, highlighting her dominance of Womens Motocross in Victoria. Kristy Gillespie will next race in the Victorian Women’s Motocross Championship. Stay tuned to Gillespie’s racing results at www.ktm.com.au

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008 Rider, Brooke Lonie begins Andorran adventure Top

Young Victorian Moto Trials rider Brooke Lonie was on route to the 2008 Trials des Nations in Andorra at the end of September.

At just 15 years of age and hailing from Ballarat, Brooke is easily the youngest member of Australia’s first ever female Trials des Nations team. “I’m really proud of being a member of the first team and I hope to remain one in the years to come,” she said. The two other females that make up the team are New South Wales riders Michelle Owen and Kristie McKinnon.

Before Nationals the girls had a two week camp in Spain and France including a three‐day training camp with Moto Trials legend Jordi Pascuet. Brooke and the team will also competed in two rounds of the Womens Moto Trials World Championship at Castelloli, Spain on 20th September and La Rabassa, Andorra on 26th September.

“The most important thing for me is bettering myself as a rider and purely taking in the experience”.

“It isn’t about the riders who are better than me or how I fare against them; it’s about developing my skills and setting me up for the future so that I can ride successfully in the teams to come,” she said.

2008 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Top

ISAF shortlisted nominations from across the world representing all aspects of sailing. The 2008 nominees were: ‐ Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb & Pippa Wilson (GBR) ‐ (FRA) ‐ Elise Rechichi & Tessa Parkinson (AUS) ‐ (ITA) ‐ (USA)

The winners are selected by the ISAF Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world, who have been invited to vote for the one male and one female nomination who they believe most deserves the Award.

Each winner will be presented with the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a distinctive Rolex timepiece.

Nominees, Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson from Australia are well known faces from the ISAF Youth Worlds, this young team showed their intent at the 2008 470 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, where they picked up their first bronze medal of the year. Hitting the European graded event circuit, they posted some mixed results before once again making the results count where it mattered with another bronze at the ISAF Grade C1 European Championships in Italy.

But it wasn't bronze that this team was after when they got to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition. Gold was the colour they dreamed of and their win was convincing. One of just four crews who won a gold medal with no previous Olympic experience, RECHICHI and PARKINSON went into their Medal Race with an 18 point lead over their nearest rivals, the three time World Champions from the Netherlands.

They sailed a tactical Medal Race to ensure the Dutch team could not steal their gold medal away and crossed the finish line to secure an Australian 470 double for coach Victor Kovalenko. At just 21 years old Rechichi and Parkinson were the youngest gold medallists at the Olympic Sailing Competition and look set for a bright future. Their ISAF Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) was number 6.

Source: ISAF (22/09/08) ‐ http://www.sail‐world.com/Australia/ISAF‐World‐Sailor‐of‐the‐Year‐Nominees‐announced/49099

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Women in Sport Newsletter | WISe-news | November 2008

Harriet Brown – Surf Life Saving Top

A member of Ocean Grove’s Surf Life Saving Club, at 18 years of age, Harriet Brown has huge potential to grow in her surf life saving capacity.

Harriet had an exceptional 2007/2008 season with her performance in the surf building momentum and progressing stronger each competition. Make sure to keep an eye out on this developing talent!

Harriet's most recent achievements include: ‐ 2008 Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships ‐ 3rd U19 Ironwoman, 3rd U19 Board Race, finalist U19 Surf Race ‐ 2008 Victorian Lifesaving Championships ‐ 1st Open Ironwoman, 1st Open Board Race, 1st Open Surf Race ‐ 2008 French National Lifesaving Championships ‐ 1st Open Board Race, 1st Open Surf Race ‐ 2008 Life Saving Victoria Female Athlete of the Year

Grants Top

The following websites have information about available grants: ‐ http://www.vicsport.asn.au/grants/ ‐ http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/all/women/get_involved ‐ For the latest state government grants in Victoria visit www.grants.dvc.vic.gov.au ‐ For the latest federal government funding visit www.grantslink.gov.au ‐ For a guide to community grants for all states / territories, visit: www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/sp/spgrants.htm ‐ Australia’s only consolidated grants information service is the Easy grants newsletter. Subscribe at www.ourcommunity.com.au

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