FEATURE ARTICLE
LC Football Ladies
Supporting and thriving: the story of women and girls in our local sports clubs It is an amazing time to be a girl playing what were male-dominated sports and across LC there has been an explosion in the number of girls out on the fields each week. Fortunately for them, there is no shortage of role models as LC boasts some of the hardest working female board members, presidents, coaches, registrars and more. WORDS: NICOLA RICHES
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t’s Saturday morning, freezing cold (or boiling hot) and Lane Cove (“LC”) is of course no different and the you’re running around the house hunting down the prevalence of local women on the boards and committees shinpads which have mysteriously disappeared since has coincided with more girls running out onto the fields. Tuesday night’s training session. Your kid/kids are bundled Among those ladies are Karen Clarkson - the secretary into the back of the car faster than you can say, “where did and registrar at Lane Cove Cricket Club (and until recently you put your drink bottle?” and you arrive on the sideline held the same position for the Lane Cove Tigers); Sally within minutes of the whistle being blown. Being the taxi Tremlett – the president of LC Rugby Club; Lisa Doumit driver and sideline supporter is one thing – keeping who was president of Lane Cove Tigers until this this whole kids’ sport show on the road, another year, and despite stepping down, continues to thing entirely. support new president, Matt Antoniolli, and It's not as though women have been has also remained on the committee while They’re busy absent from kids’ sports clubs until now sitting on the District Junior League Board. far from it. What has happened, though, Meanwhile, there’s Megan Sweeney who is women with over the last decade is the rise of women co-president and treasurer of LC Football families, jobs and Club and Fran Hahlos, who looks after on boards in local club sports that were traditionally seen as male-only, fuelled by communications for the Tigers, while also a raft of other the phenomenal rise of girls and women being employed as digital and commercial commitments playing those sports. manager for the North Sydney Bears. Next year, the Matildas will represent They’re busy women with families, Australia as it co-hosts the FIFA Women's World jobs and a raft of other commitments that Cup 2023. Captain Meg Lanning guided Australia’s extend beyond sports clubs, but alongside their women's national cricket team to a World Cup win this committees and volunteers, they nurture their female year. But it all starts at the local clubs, where parents, players and run the clubs in such a way they can keep carers, families, kids and volunteers come together to, at growing female participation. a bare minimum, lend an extra set of shinpads and fetch a Running new programs and games within the codes spare water bottle from the car. has been key to this.
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