Seeing the world through sport: Holmes visits BMI

SPORTS broadcaster Tracey Lee Holmes is headed to Ballarat with the release of her new book The Eye of the Dragonfly: A Life Seeing the World Through Sport.

In a session hosted by media producer turned lawyer, Tess Armstrong, Holmes will share stories of athletic triumph and heartbreak, while examining the powerful forces of money, politics, and discrimination that shape the world of sport.

For over three decades, the commentator has been a broadcasting trailblazer, becoming the first female host of national sports program, ABC Grandstand, and championing gender equality both on and off the field.

Now, with the release of her new book Holmes reflects on sport’s unique power to uplift the human spirit – or expose its deepest flaws.

“People have been asking me to write a book forever,” said Holmes, who will share insights into her new book and career experiences in the Minerva Space at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute (BMI) on Thursday evening 4 September.

The event is being presented in partnership with The Wheeler Centre, and NSW-based Holmes said it will likely become as much a discussion with her audience as a guest talk.

“I’m sure the discussion is going to travel in all sorts of directions, but I’m really happy to take questions from the audience,” she said.

Holmes’s love of sport, and the positivity of those who thrive in sport, may be traced to her childhood as the daughter of keen “itinerant surfers”.

“Mum and Dad both used to surf and compete and they helped organise surf competitions. When I was two we moved from the northern beaches of Sydney to South Africa because they heard the surf was great over there,” she laughed.

“I gravitated to all sports, as an observer, because of the positive environment. Positive people who are driven. I love being surrounded by people like that, who never take hurdles as a sign to give up.

“That’s why I love looking at the state of the world through sport. Sport can tell us so much about the world.

“The lessons of sport can be applied.

“It’s about strategy.

“It’s about respect for the other, its about coming together”.

The event takes place at 6pm on Thursday 4 September at the BMI.

Visit ballaratmi.org.au/event/tracey-lee-holmes.