Success Grows from Grassroots

V1 - AUSE01Z01MA THE AUSTRALIAN, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018 PRIME MINISTERS’ SPORTING ORATION 2018 theaustralian.com.au 33 Di Toro in 2016 before the Summer Building the Paralympic Games in Rio momentum for crucial change in law and order, in education, SAM DUNCAN scholastic capability, on a whole range of different fronts,” he said. The inaugural PMSO on “And we felt that these four Wednesday evening brought cause areas really picked up together corporate and pretty much all of the types of philanthropic Australia with issues that our nation universally politicians and policymakers to faces.” raise funds to shape the direction Rose said, as an example, the of investment in grassroots sport. relevance of the leadership and Former prime minister Julia decision-making cause was Gillard’s oration championed evident in the recent cricket ball- the importance of sport for the tampering saga, and as the betterment of the nation. second fattest nation in the The event raised tax- developed world, the need for deductible funds for the physical activity has never been Australian Sports Foundation. more important. Next year, the funds will be He said the profound impact available for grassroots and on the community he’d seen in community sporting the western region of Melbourne organisations to apply for, through the ASF, to support programs that address one or ‘Everyone likes to more of the PMSO’s key cause see a gold areas. Chairman of the PMSO’s medallist, but organising committee, Campbell where do the gold- Rose, said he’d had the idea for medallists start?’ an event like this for more than 20 years. CAMPBELL ROSE “It’s tough to use a sitting PMSO CHAIRMAN prime minister because they’re always managed and controlled in their messaging,” he said. “A previous office holder can after, as chief executive of the speak their mind and say Western Bulldogs, he oversaw Success grows from grassroots something quite controversial.” the rebuilding of facilities gave Recent events in cricket, said him the foundation and insights Rose, highlighted that our nation for the PMSO. was facing a “challenge of “But that’s only just one PMSO ambassador Daniela Di Toro, who starred in six consecutive Paralympic Games, says sport gave her a sense of control after she was paralysed in an accident when she was 13 significant enormity”. microcosm of what needs to be years old. Now she’s an advocate for better access to facilities for all would-be sportspeople: “It’s really about creating a place that says ‘You’re welcome here, and we value you’.” “We live in this sun-drenched done around the country. The country known for its sporting PMSO is giving our country the “like a good golf swing” ten tive role models in society, to she says. “Then we went on and prowess, but in recent years platform to have a debate about Simple steps can months later when she played her speak up and to stand for what we won the state knockout. If it we’ve really lost our way,” he these things,” he said. first Australian Open. believe in: all the important things wasn’t for that champion Mr Cook said. “It starts at home, it starts “What we’re saying is you’ve break down When it comes to funding pri- like equality and inclusion, and year-6 teacher, I wouldn’t be on the sporting field, it starts got to build the base. The cream orities for athletes with a disabili- treating everyone the same no where I am today.” with teamwork, it starts with will float to the top, the elite barriers to ty, Di Toro says the equipment is matter who you are.” There are barriers still, says learning what good athletes will naturally get the participation the most important thing. “It’s Simon gives back to the sport Blackwell, and we need to create sportsmanship is all about, resources to perform. Everyone often expensive and changes as by running soccer clinics for opportunities like Mr Cook did whether you’re a male or a likes to see a gold medallist, but the needs and the ability of the young girls — Kyah Simon Foot- back in 1995. “I mean, two Austra- female.” where do the gold-medallists SAM DUNCAN person using it changes,” she says. ball Clinics, for girls between the lian cricketers were produced The PMSO organising start? They start from a family Accessibility is also an ongoing age of eight and 18. For her, it’s see- from that team.” committee arrived at four cause taking someone and getting concern. At the professional level, ing them empowered as they de- Encouraging though, is recent areas to address what they saw as them involved in sport.” sporting associations generally velop self-confidence that makes data that shows six out of ten new the biggest issues affecting the Rose said we needed the take care of things, but at the it worthwhile. participants in the sport are fe- nation: women and girls in sport; policymakers and decision- grassroots level, the responsibility “Something as simple as teach- male, she says. physical activity; leadership and makers to be bold enough to take often falls on communities, clubs ing them a small drill or skill, you The gender equitable pay decision-making; and diversity a risk worth taking. and schools. can see on their face they’re al- model implemented last year for and inclusion. They were “It’ll take time, we’ve got a few She acknowledges we’ve come most a bit nervous or scared to professional cricketers meant decided upon, Rose said, because prime ministers to do a few a long way since she first confront- fail,” she says. “But when they ex- Blackwell’s pay doubled over- they were specific but also broad speeches,” he said. When 13-year-old Daniela Di ed the frustrations of inaccessible ecute a skill they never thought night. “I’m not sure that it’s hap- enough. “This will be an annual event Toro lay in a hospital bed after a facilities and a world in which the they could, they take that on and pened across enough sports yet,” “We’re a lucky country here, … and I really think we’re going wall fell on her at a school sports media coverage of sports stars like build huge confidence from that.” she says. but we face a whole range of to build a bit of a groundswell carnival, leaving her paralysed her would always inevitably have If Australia wins the bid for the Cricket Australia recently fo- issues that manifest themselves and momentum with this.” from the waist down, sport was the a patronising edge to it. Alex Blackwell is our most Matildas striker Kyah Simon 2023 World Cup, Simon says it cused on trying to bring about “a one thing that gave her a sense of That’s really changed, particu- capped women’s cricketer hopes to be a role model will give so many girls the oppor- groundswell in girls and women’s control and encouraged her to larly since Rio, says Di Toro. tunity to dream. The girls playing participation”, she says, so that the dream about possibilities again. Despite all the progress, access environment, says Di Toro. “It’s ing Cathy Freeman win gold at at grassroots level now will go on professional game at the pinnacle Within a year, she was repre- remains a real issue, and by this Di really about creating a place that Sydney 2000 that made her want to participate in that World Cup. could be underpinned by the jun- senting the nation at the Austra- Toro doesn’t just mean the play- says ‘you’re welcome here, and we to play for Australia. Like Simon, Alex Blackwell, ior talent coming through. lian Open, an event she first won ing surface. value you’.” She says she developed a thick Australia’s most capped women’s “There’s a little bit of a gap in in 1991. Di Toro went on to be- “There are so many clubs The Federal Government’s skin early on playing soccer in a cricketer with over 250 interna- club level participation still in come world number one and com- where I can’t even get in through National Sport Plan recently league with only one other girl, the tional appearances, grew up play- adult females, but there’s been a peted in six consecutive the front door,” she says. “There highlighted the number of women rest all boys. ing sport in teams that were male- significant change in junior partic- Paralympic Games, five in tennis, might be a gate that’s up two steps playing sport is still low, but for “You’re always isolated being dominated. ipation,” says Blackwell. and one in table tennis at the most or a gate that’s not even big people with a disability it’s even ‘the girl’ when you’re in a male- “It was a good development “In a few years time that wave recent games in Rio. enough.” lower, she says. “When you think dominated sport,” says Simon, ground for resilience,” she says. “I will come through and increase She signed up to be one of four In the first instance, it’s about about the fact that one in five peo- who actually scored five goals in played cricket Saturdays and Sun- the standard and competitive na- ambassadors for the Prime Minis- mindfulness, says Di Toro, also a ple have a disability, that’s a lot of the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. days in 40 plus degree heat.” ture of getting places in those na- ters’ Sporting Oration because, practitioner of Chinese medicine people not being active.” “But I had really good teammates But approaching teenage years, tional and domestic teams that are more than most, she understands and acupuncture.

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