The stateLiam RLWMEDIA 2014 HUB ANNUAL of play Fulton Situation

1 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography by Flickr Creative Commons Sticky Situation If sport is the glue that holds rural Australia together, how will the bush cope if footy comes unstuck? By Tom Smith

INGHA IS A DYING TOWN WITH A DEAD FOOTY CLUB. THE TINGHA TIGERS’ failure to field a team in this season’s Group 19 competition leaves the 1200 residents of the drought-crippled Northern Tablelands town without any to play and watch. The sausages have stopped sizzling at the sport and rec club every Saturday arvo, and the beers have stopped being poured at the Royal Hotel every Saturday night. Without footy, there’s less common ground between Tingha’s black and white communities, and not much to drag farmers Toff their properties every weekend. Community cohesion is coming unstuck. “They miss it terribly,” says club secretary Lyn Lackay. at least one club biting the dust every year. In that same “It’s been difficult. I think the people miss it because period, five of the CRL’s 22 top-line leagues have either they really enjoyed it. Tingha used to get a big crowd to folded or merged with neighbours to survive. their football. This struggle isn’t confined to rugby league in NSW. “There’s people that you mingle with on weekends you Australian rules – the most popular sport in rural Victoria, don’t get to see anymore, so it’s been difficult.” South Australia, and Tasmania – is Most of the Tigers’ old players moved to the Inverell suffering the same decline. Hawks this year, the only club in a much larger town – more In August, Ouyen United played Walpeup-Underbool in than 12,000 people live in Inverell – just 25km up the road. the last ever game of the Mallee Football League on the They’re lured by match payments and job opportunities Murray River before the region amalgamates to join the with the Hawks’ wider network of sponsors. Sunraysia comp. In the same division, Robinvale absorbed “It’s been going downhill because of the money,” Lackay the struggling Euston club earlier this year to keep footy says. “Tingha haven’t got that sort of money because we’re alive in the tiny border town. a small club – and you can’t compete with that.” Australian Sports Commission (ASC) figures confirm the The Tigers’ demise is a well-worn story across country number of people playing sport is falling across the board, . This season in Group Two, Woolgoolga although participation rates in the bush remain higher than folded when cashed-up Sawtell poached eight of their star in the city – especially in traditional mainstream sports players. Tathra, a South Coast seaside town of 1500 people, such as the major footy codes. also dropped out of the Group 16 division in 2015. “Participation is higher in your rural and regional areas There were 196 clubs running around in top-tier Country because there aren’t many other options to be active – Rugby League (CRL) competitions back in 1985 – that and it’s that social hub, as well,” says ASC researcher number has shrunk to just 160 today, with an average of Rochelle Eime.

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“In your rural areas, it’s “The three kids out of the the social glue of the whole school takes the school’s community.” enrolment to a cut-off point Ah yes, ‘sport is the glue that “In rural where, instead of attracting holds country towns together’ – three teachers, you’re entitled to the line that first appeared in a 2.5, and that means a different 2004 Victorian government report classroom configuration. into the ailing health of bush areas, it’s the “Another parent then says, footy, and the metaphor that’s ‘Hang on, I don’t know if I want now brought up by every boffin my kid in a multi-grade class – from Adelaide to Armidale. we’re going to take our kids as It might be a cliche borrowed well’. So three becomes six. And from the same dewy-eyed social glue then six becomes eight . . .” image of Australia portrayed The footy club provides a in kitsch tourist campaigns revealing barometer of a country and John Williamson ditties, town’s fourtunes in the face of this nor is the ‘glue’ perfect – footy of the whole slow exodus from the bush. excludes the many people who Professor Neil Argent from aren’t comfortable with clubs’ Armidale’s University of New blokey, beer-swilling culture England has seen footy clubs that entrenches racist, sexist community” drop like flies across NSW’s and homophobic attitudes. And Northern Tablelands and North of course footy isn’t the bush’s West Slopes. The local Group 19 only glue – other community – ASC researcher comp has dipped from 10 to eight organisations such as theatre teams, while the neighbouring groups and book clubs have the Group Four has shrunk from 11 to same cohesive effect. Rochelle Eime five clubs, leaving towns such as But sport remains the most Tingha, Wee Waa and Gilgai with powerful bonding agent in small no football. country towns because it’s so visiting, goodbye!’ What bangs “The extent to which your team visible and popular. Few other you in the front, to me, is always is either going badly or can’t field institutions in the bush have the sports fields. a team reflects some fundamental the ability to bring thousands of “If suddenly all sport was problems with what’s going on in people together in the one place at taken out of rural communities in your community – economically, the same time and fill them with Australia, that would be a major, socially, demographically,” Argent communal pride. Think Friday major loss. says. “It importantly reflects how Night Lights, swapping Texas teen “‘If we don’t have sport, we well the town and the broader drama for threadbare Akubras. don’t have anything’. Which is not community is going in relation to Flinders University rural true, but that’s their belief.” stocks of younger people. education professor John The modern restructuring of “That’s one of the key reasons Halsey has fond memories of his Australia’s agriculture sector why we say it’s part of this glue, playing days in Kimba on the has devastated the bush. A shift because it’s a way of bringing Eyre Peninsula – he still boasts towards foreign-owned, highly people together off the farm about the most-improved player mechanised agribusiness has and out of the townhouses and award he won in 1969 while he killed off the days of a family-run together on the Saturday to think was posted to the tiny South 2000-acre farm. The total number about something different. Australian town as a teacher – of farms in Australia has dropped “It’s absolutely fundamental for and says footy plays a huge role in from more than 200,000 in 1960 our physical health and mental country life. to less than 136,000 today, forcing health, and social and emotional “It feeds in to the mythology – many people to migrate to urban and cultural health.” or the truth – that we’re a sport- centres for employment. Physical remoteness, loving nation,” he explains. “It’s a slow decline, like a slow inadequate mental health services “As soon as you drive into a set of dominoes falling,” says and the stigma attached to country town, it basically says Halsey, imagining the impact of a seeking help all contribute to high ‘Welcome to X’, you go through father moving his wife and three levels of self harm in rural and the main street, there’s a couple kids away from a small town to regional Australia. of streets, and it says ‘Thanks for look for work elsewhere. Prominent country politicians

3 I Media Hub – Tom Smith But why should someone from TIGER TOWN Tingha’s withdrawal from Tempe or Turramurra care if Group 19 in northern the social glue golding together NSW leaves the town of Tingha or Tumbarumba is coming 1200 with no footy club. unstuck? Because if Sydneysiders think their rent is sky-high already, just want until another couple of million people flood the city’s property market. “If suddenly overnight that three to four million (Australians living in the bush) just said, ‘We’ve had enough, it’s all too hard, you don’t listen to us, we’re moving to the city’, just imagine what would happen to the nation’s infrastructure,” Halsey warns. “I mean, sewerage systems would be overloaded, there’s no housing, and in four days suddenly you see the fresh fruit and veg and the milk and so on running out in your supermarkets. “It’s about food production, it’s about energy, it’s about our connection with the natural environment . . . it is critically such as Bob Katter and Tony “You’re doing it tough on the important for our national Windsor in federal politics over farm and that can be quite an wellbeing in all sorts of ways, on the last five years have shone a isolating experience. You’re all sorts of fronts, to have vibrant, light on the widespread frustration working seven days a week, your productive rural communities. with the shabby services that city- whole life is focused on making “And sport is a really powerful centric pollies deliver the bush. ends meet – and on Saturday, metaphor, or an illustration of Country people also feel let have a break, go to the game and what’s happening in rural areas.” down by their sporting policy have a chat to people who are As the national population makers. The NRL signed a going through similar issues. surges towards the government’s billion-dollar broadcast deal in “They say if it wasn’t for footy, projected 40-million mark over August but CRL officials aren’t they would probably be on the the next 40 years, the health of holding their breath waiting farm seven days a week and not the bush – and bush footy – will for an increase to their annual have that social life. That might become a pressing concern for $8-million grant. “The NRL be slightly romanticised but in every Australian. policy is business as usual,” says their experience it’s very real. “I don’t think the glue is coming one disappointed administrator. “You go there for the footy, but unstuck . . . yet,” Spaaij muses. The burden falls on the local it’s much more than that.” “But I do think it needs a bit football club – which receives Argent says sport underpins our of rethinking in terms of how we no funding from any governing physical, mental and social health. invest in it. body, and relies on sponsors and “And it obviously benefits towns “I think the bond stays match-day fundraising to make for their social capital and also strong but particularly in those ends meet – to fill the breach, and their economic capital, as well,” towns that lose clubs and lose provide small rural communities he says. “You go into any country participation, that can be a real with a vibrant social hub. town on a Saturday morning and problem. “A lot of farmers talk about see families buzzing around after “How do you increase mental health and wellbeing,” sport, having a coffee, getting participation in sport and how says Victoria University professor supplies and then hanging around are you going to do that in those Ramon Spaaij, who studies Aussie for the big game and all the rest of circumstances? That’s quite a rules in north-west Victoria. it. It’s absolutely fundamental.” problem.”

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11 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography by Flickr Creative Commons Black mark The Macleay Valley Mustangs’ expulsion from their local comp has left footy in Kempsey on its death bed . . . and the impact on the Indigenous community could be fatal By Tom Smith

ACK IN 1957, SLIM DUSTY SUNG ABOUT ‘A PUB WITH NO BEER’. “There’s nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear,” the Kempsey-born country star mourned. If Slim was strumming his guitar in 2015, he might have been warbling about ‘A Town with No Footy’ – because since the Macleay Valley Mustangs were turfed out the NSW Mid North Coast’s Group Three competition at the end of 2014, there’s no rugby league in Dusty’s home town. Talk about lonesome, morbid and drear . . . Kempsey has given us Australian icons like Slim Dusty, Akubra hats, Band Milo – but the joint’s biggest export is football. NRL stars , , James Roberts and a stack of others have rolled off Kempsey’s prosperous production line. But the footy factory has shut up shop in 2015, and it’s hurting no-one more than the 3,000 Indigenous people living in the valley of 30,000.

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“Without that, we haven’t got a poor town already divided by community behind their rugby nothing, you know,” says the inequality. league to having nothing, it’s Mustangs’ old reserve-grade The Australian Bureau of hard.” captain-coach Sam Drew. Statistics’ 2014 socio-economic One of Sam Drew’s white mates “For a long time, that’s all we index ranked Kempsey the fourth- is Sam Howe – and they share really had. My old man, that’s poorest local government area more than just a name. The two what he grew up doing and that’s in NSW, due to large numbers of Sams were both born in 1989, both all he really had and then he’s disadvantaged Indigenous people. their dads – Warren Howe and passed that on to us. Times have A report prepared by the NSW Alfred Drew – played footy for changed since my old man was a Department of Aboriginal Affairs the Smithtown Tigers before the kid, but the feeling’s really strong based on 2011 Census data showed club merged with the Kempsey in the local Aboriginal community that 27 per cent of Indigenous Dragons to form the Macleay about league . . . the whole adults in Kempsey were Valley Mustangs in 1995, and they community’s behind it.” unemployed compared to just both work on the $600-million The Mustangs were expelled eight per cent of non-Indigenous Frederickton to Eungai bypass from the neighbouring Group Two people in the town, while their that’s injected 2000 jobs into the competition midway through the median income was just $335 – region’s struggling, agriculture- 2013 season after a wild brawl 14 per cent lower than the dependent economy since 2010. at a game in Coffs Harbour, non-Indigenous median of $391. While Drew suited up for South and shifted to Group Three for The Aboriginal population also West Rocks this year, Howe 2014. They won the suffers higher rates of disability, couldn’t bring himself to pull on but were voted out of the comp have less access to internet, and another club’s jumper. by rival clubs for breaching the are twice as likely to drop out of “There’s nothing like home, Group’s code of conduct by using school before year 12. the Macleay Valley Mustangs is a unaccredited coaches, threatening The Mustangs helped to build pretty special club,” says Howe, a referee, and violating social a bridge between Kempsey’s who used to play for the Gold media guidelines. better-off white population and Coast Titans NRL franchise. Mustangs players scattered after the large Aboriginal communities “To kick an entire club out the club’s expulsion from Group in missions such as Greenhill and – under-18s, women’s, reserve Three. Many of Drew’s cousins Burnt Bridge, as well as South grade and first grade – it’s really and mates moved 50km down the Kempsey, separated from the rest damaging our entire community road to Port Macquarie outfit Port of the town by the Macleay River. . . . it’s obscene, it’s absolutely City Breakers, and some went as “I grew up in South Kempsey, so ludicrous. far as the South Grafton Rebels as a weekend thing it was just us “It was really bringing the 200km north. Others shifted to Aboriginal kids by ourselves that Macleay community together. It the South West Rocks Marlins or hung out. But as we got older and didn’t matter what background the Lower Macleay Magpies, both got into team sports, we all started you were from, if you were part of half an hour’s drive away. Plenty mingling together, and it was the Mustangs, you were part of the sat out of footy altogether. unreal,” says Drew, 26. community. It is really damaging No footy in Kempsey now means “Some of my best mates are our community that we’ve got no blacks and whites don’t rub non-Indigenous people and that’s football here. shoulders as often as they used all thanks to football, really. “It just gives that common to, driving another wedge between “Going from such a strong ground where someone who may not have anything to do with the Indigenous community goes to the footy and all of a sudden “It is really damaging the community they’re sitting alongside them and cheering with them and all getting along. It’s just a common ground. that we’ve got no football here . . . It really does bridge that gap.” The Mustangs were voted out of Group Three in October it was really bringing the Macleay last year when former president Dave Fernando labelled comp administrators “racist redneck community together” – Sam Howe c***s” on Facebook in response to no Macleay Valley player

13 I Media Hub – Tom Smith MUSTANGS RALLY Macleay Valley lifted the Group Three trophy in 2014, but were booted out of the comp for this season.

receiving an award at the league’s Smith insists the procedure Kempsey’s St Joseph’s Primary, is end-of-season presentation night, was clean and the Mustangs are cautiously optimistic. despite winning the premiership. welcome to apply for re-admission “I just want to see this club Plenty in Kempsey saw the awards if they meet two criteria. back where it belongs: playing snub as racist. “Discipline on the field, and just football,” he says. The Country Rugby League to clean up their administration,” It’s not uncommon for (CRL) governing body tried to he says brusquely. Aboriginal clubs to find intervene to protect Kempsey’s Town historian Bruce Cain and themselves on the wrong side fertile footy nursery – they didn’t Mustangs founder Mike Spalding of country administrators. The want to let another Greg Inglis or are leading the campaign for famous Moree Boomerangs James Roberts slip through their re-entry. They’ve retired $4000 outfit were expelled from Group fingers – and convened another of debt through sausage sizzles 19 for 12 years between 1998- ballot, which also went against the and raffle tickets and have penned 2010, while just this season, the Mustangs. a business plan that’s received police dog squad was called to a It’s understood powerful the CRL’s tick of approval. Cain match at Murwillumbah when the Group Three secretary Barrie and Spalding broke bread with crowd’s racist taunts towards the Smith, a veteran of more than 30 Group Three officials in Wingham Indigenous players from Lismore years experience in bush footy this July and will submit the team Northern United erupted governance, pressured clubs paperwork needed for readmission into violence. to vote against Macleay Valley. on November 1 before their In the Macleay Valley alone, Kempsey mayor and club patron application is thrown to a vote at three Aboriginal-run clubs – Liz Campbell describes the vote the Group’s AGM on November 15. Ngaku Warriors, Gimbisi Warriors as “pre-determined . . . I was quite Cain, who went to school with and Dunghutti Broncos – have astounded by the process.” Greg Inglis’ mother Monica at been expelled from various

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competitions in the last 30 years. team . . . it’s really important for a When I mention a white official The Mustangs’ controversial town to have a representation. complimented a black player as ex-president Dave Fernando “We’re one community. We’re being “almost like a white fella” in even took the CRL to the Anti- not a divided community. an interview for this story, Cottle Discrimination Board of NSW “I believe that people shouldn’t groans. He’s heard that outdated in 2010 for a six-month legal be marginalised and isolated over footy-speak umpteen times battle over the Broncos’ expulsion sport.” before. from Group Two. The case was Ripping rugby league away “It’s the kind of casual, almost eventually dismissed. from Indigenous people further everyday expression effectively Macleay Valley are the latest disadvantages a community taken from a different era – the in a long line of clubs with a large already battling unemployment ’50s, ’60s or whatever,” Cottle Indigenous contingent to cop and poverty, but University of sighs. “It’s institutionalised. It’s racist abuse. Western politics professor everyday. It’s common place.” “You’re getting into a lot of Drew Cottle insists it takes more Cottle says sport means so much history here,” says Mustangs than a game of footy to empower to Aboriginal people because it’s godfather Mike Spalding. disenfranchised Aborigines. one of the few ways voiceless, “They were provoked, called Cottle has written about rugby young, black men can express names, racist remarks because league’s thorny relationship themselves and assert their racial they couldn’t beat them so they with race and underlines that identity – just ask Adam Goodes. just gave it to them like that.” although more than 10 per cent Even though old fogeys 20 years after founding the club of professional NRL players are might run the bush comps, the as a merger of Smithtown and Indigenous, very few become footy field itself is one of the Kempsey, Spalding has come back coaches, commentators or rare domains “not controlled to re-unify the valley’s fractured administrators in retirement – or governed by white fellas,” population. which exposes a deep-seated according to Cottle. “It was noticeable how we were power imbalance. “Black Australians have been uniting the community . . . and it just went in a heap,” Spalding says CLOSE THE GAP with a lump in his throat. Despite improvements, Indigenous life “My involvement is because my expectancy still lags a decade behind non-. heart and soul is with that club. It really is. “The players have gone to play for other clubs around the place and it’s split the community . . . they’re not back home together. “There’s been some pretty tough times but we’ve just got to have a rugby league club. We’ve just got to. “It’s not a black club, it’s not an Irishman’s club, it’s not a Chinese club – it’s the Macleay Valley Mustangs, all comers.” Mayor Liz Campbell thinks the Mustangs’ punishment was way too severe and isn’t too confident about winning the approval of the Group in November’s vote. But she’s throwing her weight behind the bid because of footy’s importance to her constituency. “People identify with a rugby league team, especially in a place like Kempsey,” Campbell says. “The town was behind the Mustangs. It had been a combined

15 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography by Menzies School of Health Research dispossessed – and I think person is still twice as likely to football is one avenue of escape spark up as a non-Indigenous for many young males. “That we have Australian. “It’s seen as a great social Dr Jackson Pulver says the good.” government needs to adopt And that good isn’t limited to a collaborative approach to the health of the community – any gap at all get through to Indigenous sport is crucial to the health of communities – and one of the best individuals, too. ways to send a message is through Although Australia is a world role models. Queensland-based leader in health, Aboriginal is an absolute initiative Deadly Choices employ outcomes lag far behind. NRL superstar , who Colonisers’ imposition of a publicly quit smoking in 2009. European diet, including tobacco Even local footy is a useful way and alcohol, more than 200 years shame” of encouraging healthy choices ago opened a health gap between via everyday role models, rather our black and white populations than blaming Aboriginal people that has never been closed since. who don’t follow health decrees Department of Health data – Dr Lisa Jackson shouted from . shows Indigenous people suffer “No one does what they’re told far higher rates of communicable to do . . . you can’t dictate what diseases, diabetes, heart and Pulver people need, but you should have kidney problems, and mental the ears to listen,” says Dr Jackson illness. The Australian Institute but it will change community Pulver, bemused that a league- of Health and Welfare traces cohesiveness. mad town like Kempsey has no improvements to life expectancy – “If we start removing teams that footy club. an Indigenous boy born 2010 can make people feel really, really good “If you start to threaten those now expect to live 69.1 years and a and chew up their energy and give recreational activities, you’ll be girl 73.7 – but that’s still a decade them an opportunity to get their starting to build another layer of short of the non-Indigenous heart beating and legs running despair that we’ve spent so much average in this country. and bonding with each other and time trying to ameliorate. Heart disease is the leading knowing other people in the town, “It’s not just the people running cause of death for Indigenous then you will change the dynamic around on the field – it’s the people – and physical activity, of a community.” people who go to cheer them on, such as a game of footy, helps Sport isn’t a silver bullet that it’s the people who run the tuck tackle that problem. can solve the health problems shops, the people who look after Department of Health research that dog Indigenous communities, the kit and the gear. It’s much, shows that Indigenous people do and Dr Jackson Pulver demands much more than than the players 10 per cent less physical activity more public money be spent on running around on a field. It’s a than non-Indigenous people – education and Aboriginal health much, much bigger community and levels of inactivity are even services tailored for specific areas. engagement than that.” higher in the bush. Many Indigenous people retain The gap is closing, but the “The life expectancy thing is a deep scepticism of government number of Aboriginal mothers such an awfulness that we have to health services in the wake of the dying in childbirth and Indigenous deal with on a day-to-day basis, Stolen Generation, and view the people dying of influenza, and of course life expectancy hospital as somewhere you go to pneumonia and other vaccine- is a direct correlation of things die rather than get better. preventable diseases underscores like nutrition, physical activity, Public health messages that how much work is left to do. education levels, and feeling as work with non-Indigenous “That we have any gap at all is though you have a meaningful Australia – such as anti-smoking wrong,” Jackson Pulver says. life,” says UNSW professor Dr Lisa advertisements – often fail to gain “In this first-world country, one Jackson Pulver, an Indigenous the same traction with Indigenous of the richest on earth, one of the health expert. people, who resist sermons best countries in the whole wide “The whole idea of denying dictated by white men in blue world – to have a gap for its first people an opportunity to play ties. So despite the government’s peoples is an absolute shame. sport will not only have an world-renowned efforts to “The job is not done. We need impact on the individuals’ health, eradicate smoking, an Aboriginal to do more.”

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5 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography by South Coast Register ‘It’s the biggest blight on our game’ The CRL’s ancient insurance deal is driving players away – but would beefed-up income protection stem the bush footy exodus? By Tom Smith

N 1993, A LITRE OF MILK COST LESS THAN A DOLLAR, A LOAF of bread set you back $1.50, the average Australian’s weekly earnings were about $500 . . . and the Country Rugby League’s $300 weekly payment to injured players covered a good chunk of a household’s budget. In 2015, when the average person takes home more than $1500 a week, you’d be stretching $300 to even cover a typical family’s weekly grocery bill. But in those 22 years that have elapsed, the CRL’s insurance policy – a compulsory plan that costs rural NSW’s 15,000 senior players roughly $200 Ia season – hasn’t budged. A deal that was conceived the same year Jurassic Park hit the silver screen now looks like a dinosaur in the new millennium.

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“The whole cost of living has gone up – how hasn’t insurance gone up?” fumes Paul Hetherington, ‘Header’ to his mates, who broke his leg playing for Parkes in June and was stunned the insurance payout hadn’t changed since suffering the same injury in 1999. “I said, ‘No mate, that’s gotta be bull crap’. 1999 to 2015, that’s more than 15 years ago, and everything else – your whole cost of living, wages – everything’s gone up. Insurance is bugger all money for that time out of work.” Header’s injury isn’t unique. A 2014 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare recorded 2621 hospitalisations due to rugby injuries, accounting for 4522 bed days. The majority of cases were fractures (54 per cent), and the most commonly affected part of the body was the lower leg (26 per cent). Knocks are also more common in the bush than the city. Only 13.4 of every 100,000 metropolitan residents were hospitalised with a rugby injury compared in 16.1 in inner regional areas, 23.4 in outer regional areas, and 26.2 in remote areas, placing added strain on the country’s already overworked health system. ’99 PROBLEMS Hetherington noticed rugby Parkes prop Paul league’s insurance problem even Hetherington broke his leg in June – and before he became another statistic was surprised the in the code’s ever-growing number CRL’s insurance of casualties. The rugged prop scheme hadn’t changed since 1999. assumed the Parkes Spacemen captain-coach duties this season after nine years mining in Western “You’ve got younger blokes who The 37-year-old is such a well- Australia, and struggled to recruit walk away from the game because travelled rugby league nomad that players because they feared the insurance ain’t working. It’s he’s accumulated nearly 13,000 injury and didn’t trust the CRL’s not working anymore. followers on his Facebook page insurance deal. “Your job and your family comes ‘Bush Footy Yarns’, and when BJ “Every bloke I went to see or first. Blokes who were going to posted Header’s tale back in June, rang was like, ‘Nah, it’s just not play wouldn’t play for that simple wounded weekend warriors from worth it with work. If you get hurt, fact: it’s just not worth it.” Cobar to Kiama sent in their own you’re stuffed’,” the 39-year-old One person who did sign up stories of feeling dudded by the explains. “People have got families was Header’s best mate, Billy CRL’s $300-a-week payments. to look after. What’s it worth Joe Francis. A Peak Hill native, Francis deployed his large playing a game of reserve grade Francis has played for Orange online community to raise tens out in the bush for? We don’t get CYMS, Manildra, Bathurst of thousands of dollars for the looked after very well. Panthers, Dunedoo and Parkes. families of car crash victims and

7 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography supplied Central West footy personalities Trent Morgan in 2012 and Chris Thompson in 2014. And “If you get hurt, you’re stuffed. he’s turning his attention to another campaign this summer: taking time off from his mining People have families to look after excavation business to travel around the countryside flogging an alternative insurance deal to the CRL’s compulsory package. – what’s it worth playing a game in “It’s the biggest blight on the game,” Francis says. “It baffles me that there’s not the bush for?” – Paul Hetherington been extra done by the CRL, because it’s the biggest problem is bullshit, because we could put you’ve got a family, and I know facing the game.” together a Rolls Royce product, this sounds mean, but if you can’t Francis has teamed up with but then no one could afford afford to get injured then don’t Queensland-based company it,” fires French, now director of play, mate.” Player Protection, who specifically SLE Australia, the company that Sadly, many bush footballers are tailor health insurance packages underwrites the CRL deal. taking French’s advice. The CRL for amateur athletes. The firm will “We’re the biggest insurance boasted 74,000 registered players pay Francis a $200 finder’s fee per sport in Australia . . . because in 1969 – but that figure has now sign-up, which he pledges to knock we’ve got a program that’s slumped to less less than 54,000 off the price of the player’s policy. sustainable and can be paid for.” after a sharp drop-off in the mid Rugby league players in rural French’s claim stacks up 1990s. The player pool has grown NSW must purchase the CRL’s against the other football codes. slightly over the last five years but compulsory insurance but are free and soccer both cap that’s due to the surging number to buy their own package as well. income protection at just $250 of women playing the game. Many everyday insurance deals per week, while income protection There are plenty of reasons why don’t protect your income if you’re is optional in Aussie rules, where numbers are on the slide, such injured doing a risky activity, such it could cost $492 to insure a as young people emigrating to as playing footy. $300-per-week income – far more the city and the sheer number of The CRL’s $200 policy caps expensive than the CRL’s $200 alternative leisure activities now income protection at $300 per policy for the same level of cover. available. But Australia’s leading week after a 28-day exclusion Rugby league also compares sports epidemiologist Caroline period. But Player Protection can well in capital benefits paid out Finch confirms that risk of injury offer a $570 deal to a labourer for death or permanent disability, is one of the biggest barriers on $50,000 that insures his protecting players such as Alex to participation in community income for $3125 a month – more McKinnon, the sport – especially in rural areas, expensive, but better coverage. player who broke his neck in an where your typical footy player is “It’s putting the decision back NRL match last year and is now a a manual labourer with a family to in the players’ hands,” says Player quadriplegic. The CRL’s $500,000 support and bills to pay. Protection director Lachlan Hall. payment betters rugby’s $400,000 “Our weekend warriors, if Brad French put together the and dwarfs the $100,000 in soccer they were to get an injury and original insurance scheme with and Aussie rules. couldn’t work, their whole family’s then-CRL chief executive David French says costs would balloon liveability could be at risk,” Finch Barnhill in 1993 – the first-ever if the CRL raised the level of says. “A lot of these guys can be compulsory coverage of an amateur income protection, and players are tradies or whatever, and the very sporting competition anywhere in welcome to top up their insurance nature of their work is physical. Australia – when he was working with SLE – an extra $400 per And if they can’t work for six to for American insurer Aon and week costs a princely $925.80. eight weeks . . . playing rugby for Eastwood . . . “But you know how many people “But I’d actually also like to see and he’s not impressed by calls to top it up, out of the 15,000 senior the insurance industry invest in upgrade the plan. players? About seven,” he says. prevention – that’ll be cheaper “All this crap about the “Yep, $300 isn’t enough to live than paying out claims for the insurance issue in rugby league on but if you’re playing footy and long term.”

MediaRugby Hub League – Tom Week Smith I I 45 8 Why bushLiam footy RLWMEDIA 2014 HUB ANNUAL is dying Fulton

He says bush footballers need to realise they’re not the finely MAGIC TOUCH Modified versions of contact “If risk is reduced, tuned beefcakes they see on TV sports, such as touch footy, are every weekend – and community a good way of keeping older sports need to modify their rules players involved in the game. then it’s going to to make sports more participant friendly. Smaller pitches, fewer players, less contact, and more encourage those emphasis on having fun rather than the win-loss column would make sports more enjoyable for involved in the players – especially old blokes like Header. It sounds like heresy to old-school footy fans who love sport to continue the gladitorial, bone-crunching tackles – but maybe rugby league needs an overhaul to make it safer. because they’re “You basically re-design the structure of the playing experience to manage the risk of injury,” enjoying playing Elliott says. “If the management of that risk is reduced or condensed, then it’s football more” not only going to encourage more people to play, but it’s going to encourage those involved in the – Dr Sam Elliott sport to continue because they’re enjoying playing football more.” Finch, director of the Australian The boffins agree that Centre for Research into Injury something needs to be done to in Sport at Ballarat’s Federation stem the flow of bush footballers University, says hospitals are limping into retirement and treating more sports injuries than straight into doctor’s offices ever – especially under-pressure complaining of osteoarthritis, rural medical centres handling which is a predictor of casualties of contact sports. cardiovascular disease – the The solution is educating the leading cause of death in army of dedicated but unqualified Australia. community coaches with health Finch says governing bodies and safety guidelines. Finch has like the CRL should not only spent the last four years helping support their injured players with devise the AFL’s FootyFirst a bit more than $300 a week, exercise training program to but also take more responsibility reduce the risk of common injuries for preventing injuries before such as Hetherington’s broken thousands of bashed-up weekend leg, but no such guidelines exist in warriors add to the $24 billion rugby league. this country already spends on Dr Sam Elliott, a lecturer in arthritic disease. sport and health at Flinders “The sports bodies get so much University, believes better from our society,” Finch says. education should be combined “It is an important part of our with ample insurance and society but they get a lot from us competitive engineering – actually through the volunteers and the changing the format of sports to people paying to be spectators. reduce the risk of injury – to make Why can’t the same sports bodies the football codes safer, and arrest give a bit back to us by looking footy’s player exodus. after our public health?”

9 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography by Energy Images Media Hub – Tom Smith I 10 How to saveLiam RLWMEDIA 2014 HUB ANNUAL bush footy Fulton

17 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography supplied A League Tag of their own With male numbers flatlining, women’s participation looms as rugby league’s big weapon in its war with Aussie rules By Tom Smith

HE EASTERN SUBURBS ROOSTERS PUT TOGETHER THE NRL’S longest ever winning streak by collecting 19 victories on the trot in 1975. 40 years later, the Wagga Brothers League Tag team has roasted the Chooks’ record. The Brothers women (pictured left), who play the modified 11-a-side version of the 13-man code, won 74 matches in a row until their heart-breaking defeat to Gundagai in September’s Group Nine decider, going down 12-8 in extra-time. “I’m so proud of all the players who have been a part of this team in the last five years,” coach Craig Stewart says. “Now everyone involved can look Tback and say, ‘I was a part of that incredible run’.” So what was the secret of their success? Is there Group 20, based in nearby Griffith, and Group something in the water down Wagga way? Nine, which stretches from Young in the north to “Friendship’s a big part of it. All the girls get along and Albury on the Victorian border, were the pioneers we’re a tight bunch,” says Brothers Sarah Stewart. of the female-specific version of rugby league, “But once we get onto that field we just switch into taking advantage of the strong culture of touch game mode. Nobody wants to let each other down. footy that exists in the region. “I think at the start the girls were just here to socialise About 800 of NSW’s 6000 League Tag players and have a bit of a run around but once the wins started come from the Riverina, a figure that’s exploded racking up the boys started to recognise the commitment from just 1655 five years ago. we had to each other and the effort we were putting in to Female participation is by far the biggest growth get those results.” area in the Country Rugby League (CRL), whose And although Brothers’ winning streak has come to 53,000-strong player pool would be shrinking if an end, League Tag’s momentum continues to build not for the thousands of women signing up to play throughout the Riverina – and right across the state. League Tag.

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“When we first started, we were of females playing for the club to sort of a curtain-raiser for the roughly 100. ressies and the first grade – like “The main growth constraint the cheerleaders,” Stewart says. is finding space on a Saturday to “But now it’s a lot more serious.” play all the games,” says Brothers Engaging women in League secretary Steven Cook, an Tag has also helped boost male ex-player who’s hung up the boots registrations. The Riverina has but remains involved because recorded a 40 per cent increase in of his league-loving daughters, men playing the game over the last Charli (11) and Laila (9). “For five years, from 1493 in 2010 to someone who’s got no sons, 2057 today – a period when most I might’ve been lost to footy.” comps have lost players. Country Aussie rules clubs Other regions are now catching established a formal affiliation on to the value of female footy. with netball in 1982 but rugby When the strong Central Coast league has historically struggled division set up a League Tag comp to engage women. A shameful for the first time this season, number of high-profile NRL 11 of the 12 first-grade clubs players charged with domestic fielded a side. 14 of the CRL’s 21 violence has contributed to a senior men’s comps now have an bigger women problem than Tony affiliated women’s league. Abbott’s old cabinet. Sarah Stewart and her 17-year- But have a yarn with anyone old sister and team-mate Molly involved in bush footy and they’ll are perfect examples of how rave about how League Tag has League Tag helps bolster men’s improved club culture. participation. Sarah dragged her Brothers aren’t a big club – basketballer boyfriend Shaun into their men’s side haven’t won a rugby league two years ago, while title since 1995 – but they’ve had her dad Craig was an Aussie rules no trouble attracting sponsors player for local Turvey Park before since their League Tag girls deciding to coach his daughters in started their winning streak, and 2011 – the year that kicked off the tickets to the end-of-season Red winning streak. and Green Ball sold like hot cakes. “That’s how I got roped into it,” Sarah Stewart reckons the de Craig smiles. facto daycare group on the hill at “I’m a competitor myself and McDonalds Park has made for a I love sport, and it’s great to see friendlier atmosphere at games, the girls enjoying it so much.” and having two female players on With an all-conquering open- the five-person social committee age team setting the example, girls has spruced up the tired old are queuing up to play in Wagga sausage sizzle and keg of VB to Brothers’ junior League Tag sides. raise funds on match day. Brothers boast an under-16s, “It’s the best way of unifying the Melbourne-based AFL. Both under-13s and two under-10s girls club . . . it just provides a really codes have bulging war chests teams, bringing the total number good environment for families to thanks to billion-dollar broadcast go along to,” says CRL regional rights deals penned in August manager Dave Skinner. but the AFL is committing more “League Tag is “Previously, the poor old ladies resources to the battle – they would turn up with one option: employ 28 staff members in the you can work in the canteen. Now Riverina compared to rugby the best way of they’re part of this sport.” league’s 10. The Riverina’s League Tag Wagga is a sports-mad town boom is great news for NRL of 60,000 where the two codes unifying the club” power brokers because Wagga is have traditionally co-existed in on the frontline of Sydney-centric peace, until Leaguies fumed in – Dave Skinner rugby league’s turf war with the 2012 when the council committed

19 I Media Hub – Tom Smith TURF WAR Hosting the City-Country rep game at Wagga’s newly renovated McDonalds Park was the NRL’s latest move in their battle with the AFL over the Riverina.

$300,000 to establish a regional The NRL hit back with a nine-a-side code in Wagga and academy for new AFL franchise $75,000 renovation of league field just one women’s team, the Greater Western Sydney Giants. headquarters McDonalds Park Riverina Lions, who take part in The spending will reap dividends and by hosting this year’s lucrative the Canberra comp three hours’ at this November’s AFL national City-Country clash in Wagga, drive away. draft, when teenage Riverina bringing some of the game’s “It’s obviously pretty divided products Matthew Kennedy and biggest stars to the Riverina. out there,” says CRL community Jacob Hopper are expected be AFL’s participation rates in football operations manager taken in the top 10 picks. the region have grown from 3203 Mitch Quinn. “GWS are pretty “It’s a region that we invest in 2010 to 3826 in 2015 – about heavily linked in the area, and into and it’s an important region 1000 more than play rugby that’s something we’re trying to to us,” AFL spokesman Sam league – but lag badly in women’s combat. And the numbers that Canavan says. “The appetite is participation. The AFL is yet have come through this year’s definitely there.” to establish their popular coed registrations have been very

Photography by Wikimedia Commons MediaRugby Hub League – Tom Smith Week II 2045 How to Liamsave RLWMEDIA 2014 HUB ANNUAL bush footy Fulton

WAGGA WONDER WOMEN The Wagga Brothers League Tag team won 74 games in a row before their streak ended in this year’s grand final.

21 I Media Hub – Tom Smith Photography by Wagga Now raise money for breast cancer and the White Ribbon Foundation, “The only way to really grow but footy typically confines the role of women to mums running the canteen or driving their sons your fanbase is to grow it among to training. Female players are marginalised – 2014 was the first time the NRL provided any women and girls . . . it’s just good funding whatsoever for Australia’s national team, the Jillaroos. Even the person in charge of the CRL’s booming League Tag business” – Danielle Warby program, Mitch Quinn, is the chief executive’s son. strong, and it’s on the back of such “I see the major codes fighting “It just looks bad, doesn’t it, a strong League Tag.” over fans and I think the amount no matter how qualified that Figures provided by the of fans that exist out there for individual is,” Warby says. Australian Sports Commission men’s sport has hit saturation “And I think it really does (ASC) show that modified games point – and the only way to really emphasise the ‘boys club’ with a strong social aspect, such grow your fanbase is to grow it criticism that gets levelled at as League Tag, are making huge among women and girls, who are rugby league, because there’s a inroads in participation numbers yet to know that they’re actually perfect example of it. Who knows, – particularly with women, who interested in the game or they’re the guy could be doing a great job. tend to walk away from sport not currently interested in the way But at the end of the day, it just in their teens. ASC researcher it’s being presented to them.” doesn’t look good. And I think it’s Rochelle Eime says boys and But then there’s footy’s massive very discouraging to women who girls play the same amount of women problem. The stench may think they have something to sport as kids but female numbers of the Bulldogs’ Coffs Harbour offer for a position like that, who drop during adolescence due to rape allegations still lingers over go, ‘Well, what chance do I have if social pressures around puberty, the code 11 years on, as does the CEO’s son is in that position a lack of female role models, and Four Corners’ 2009 expose of the right now?’” the increasing competitiveness Matthew Johns group sex scandal. Sporting equality remains of community sport. However, Rabbitohs superstar Greg Inglis miles off, but the gap is beginning sports that are fun and flexible are headlines a long list of NRL stars to close. 2015 has been a winning many women back. charged with violence against watershed year for women’s “Sport when they’re younger is women, alongside , sport – the Matildas’ run at the all about fun, friends and fitness,” Isaac Gordon, Richie Fa’aoso, FIFA Women’s World Cup this says Eime, applauding the Matthew Lodge, Blake Ferguson, June, Fox Sports’ decision to mainstream sports that provide Kirisome Auva’a and Shaun broadcast W-League football, modified versions to cater to Kenny-Dowall. Cricket Australia’s foundation of women. “A lot of it is changing When Kenny-Dowall – who is a women’s Big Bash comp, the the structure – so making it more pleading not guilty to 11 domestic AFL unveiling a national women’s flexible, and having more girls- violence charges levelled against league to be shown on Channel 7 only competitions as well.” him in July – returned to the next year, Channel 9 coverage of Women’s sport advocate playing field in August, Roosters the Jillaroos’ eye-catching clash Danielle Warby can’t believe supporters waved banners with New Zealand in May, and an blokey sports don’t do more welcoming him back and chanted all-female team taking part in the to appeal to 51 per cent of the his name. He lined up alongside Bathurst 1000 for the first time population in such a crowded team-mate Ferguson, who was since 1998. sporting market. convicted of assaulting a women Not perfect, but it’s a start – “This kind of stuff to me is a in a nightclub in 2013, and against and Warby has some free advice no-brainer . . . it’s baffling to me South Sydney’s Auva’a, who was for any blokes still not convinced. as to why there isn’t more of that convicted of drunkenly injuring his “It’s just good business,” she support,” says Warby, who sits girlfriend last year. says frankly. “At the end of the on the board of the Australian The NRL celebrates ‘Women day, if you want to grow the game, Women’s Sport and Recreation in League’ round each May, when there’s your growth area. End of Association. teams wear pink jumpers and story.”

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