50 years of supporting women in sport

THE idea to form a local association specifically for sportswomen came from the Ballarat Branch of the Sportsmen’s Association of Australia in late 1971.

In the next year, a meeting was held in Aileen Eyres’ home to get the ball rolling, and an organising committee was formed, before it was decided in 1973 that the sporting community would enthusiastically receive the group.

Five months later, on 4 July, the Ballarat Associates Branch of the Sportsmen’s Association of Australia, or the Ballarat Sportswomen’s Association, officially held their first foundation members’ dinner meeting at Craig’s Hotel, and a movement was born.

Fifty years later, the association’s 80 members are celebrating their half-century this week, with a special anniversary edition of their annual ladies-only awards night, organised by a committee of 11 women.

“We aim to support and foster local girls and women in sport,” said president Anne Jones.

“We fundraise and give some financial assistance to young girls who are going to compete on a national and international level.

“Over the 50 years, we’ve supported over 200 young athletes who have potential and are breaking into their sport.

“Just recently, we supported Lucy Richardson and Katie Jackson, the young rowers who won world bronze this year.

“It’s very satisfying that our organisation can play a small part in their journey.”

This week’s celebration evening was the group’s 48th effort acknowledging the recent outstanding achievements of Ballarat’s female athletes.

It is a “simple formula” of awards for encouragement, long-time sports administration volunteers, a sporting spirit, and major Sports Girl of the Year, and Sportswoman of the Year honours, and a guest speaker.

Local women and girls who have been highlighted within awards nights over the years include javelin thrower Kathryn Mitchell, swimmer Shayne Reese, rower Katrina Werry, badminton player Kellie Lucas, basketballers Robyn Maher and Alison Tranquilli, and runner Sandra Griffin.

“Many of them have won world titles or have represented Australia at the Olympic games,” Ms Jones said.

Awards night guest speakers have included runner Raelene Boyle, Aussie rules football personality Tom Hafey, sports journalists Caroline Wilson and Sam Lane, and swimmer Dawn Fraser.

The organisation aims to keep in touch with award winners and takes an interest in their ongoing sporting endeavours, and achievements.

“We always follow up with them, and we love to hear back,” committee member Marg Williams said.

“When Kathryn Mitchell competes, for example, I always send her an email from the club wishing her good luck in the event that’s coming up.”

Ms Jones said women’s sporting opportunities have progressed monumentally since 1973, and in the era of booming women’s cricket, the AFLW, and the phenomenon that is The Matildas, it’s an exciting time.

“Fifty years ago, the girls weren’t in the Head of the Lake, and there were very basic sports that women could compete in, like tennis, netball and softball,” she said.

“Now young girls have the opportunity to try something, where before they had a narrow offering. If they have trouble hitting a ball, they can try swimming, or soccer.”

There were six inaugural members of the association, and the two living women from that group, Ms Eyres and Lorna Opie, remain part of it.

All members of the association are required to be involved with a sporting club, with the current committee’s interests ranging from lawn bowls to golf, and tennis.

But the association is not only beneficial to the athletes, it’s a social space for all the committee members.

“It’s a friendship group of people with the same interests,” said member Deb Barnett.