Star studded panel inspis the region

“When we witness and celebrate the strength and power of our female sporting stars, it transforms the way women and the roles they can play are seen – if she can see it, she can absolutely be it.”

That is how South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Katrine Hildyard encapsulated The Power of Her – a gender equality, female leadership program that brought its message to the Limestone Coast last month.

From the school session in the morning to the evening workshop, The Power of Her assembled a top shelf panel tackling issues from body image to period pain, from achieving gender equality in sport to leadership and team work in two inspiring events facilitated by the Limestone Coast Local Government Association with Connected and Active Communities Officer Tony Elletson leading the charge.

Former Australian Diamonds captain and recently inducted Netball Australia Hall of Fame member Natalie von Bertouch; dual Thunderbirds premiership captain and Paris Olympics Bronze Medallist Caitlin Parker headlined the two events, along with representatives from positive body image campaigners The Embrace Collective; Play Like A Girl Australia and the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia.

Former Limestone Coast cycling star Sarah Dally also joined the evening session in her former hometown.

Former Naracoorte local Alice Monfries, now a news presenter and journalist with Channel Nine Adelaide, emceed both sessions.

“I am passionate about girls and women getting the same opportunities as boys,” Alice said as she opened the school student session. “We have come so far but there is still a way to go.”

Kirsty Mead, from The Embrace Collective, a project set up by 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt, opened the school session with her building better body image message.

“We know that participating in sport is really good for our mental and physical health and wellbeing but there are so many barriers,” she said. “How we feel about out bodies is one of those barriers that stops us playing sport.

“It’s not about what we look like but how we feel about how we look.”

She also said getting involved in sport needs to be about what you can do.

“And sport is not always about winning – it is about the friends you make along the way,” she said. “When people feel safe, when people feel confident and comfortable and when their friends are there – they stay involved.”

An educational video hosted by Olympic swimming star Libby Trickett have a brief overview of the language we should be using and the behaviour we should foster.

Messages like cutting the criticism, emphasising fun, providing constructive and positive feedback and encouraging effort and improvement were part of that presentation.

Highlighting a diverse range of role models was also encouraged, as was the adoption of flexible uniform options and avoiding nutrition advice and commenting on food choices, leaving that to qualified professionals.

Nicola Johnson, from the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, then tackled the often taboo subject of pelvic pain and the impact of menstruating on sport participation, running through what should be considered normal and what might require a trip to the doctor.

“Pain and sleep go hand in hand and exercise can really help,” Nicola said.

Paris bronze medallist Caitlin Parker shared her story, from taking up boxing as an 11 year old and then the peaks and troughs of her journey to living her dream of competing at an Olympic Games.

“It has been a ling journey,” Caitlin said. “There were a few big hurdles like not making it when I thought I would so standing on the Olympic podium was a dream come true. I love sharing my story and my medal – it’s really special. If it encourages people to have a go – I’m all about it.”

Cailtin started her combat sport journey in Taekwondo – already a big step for a self-confessed shy kid, lacking in confidence.

“I had to get a black belt before my dad would let me walk to school by myself,” Caitlin said.

Once she headed to the boxing gym, being the only girl provided her with the motivation to be the best she could possible be and she believes that was the start of developing her leadership skills as well.

Cailtin is currently the captain of the Australian Boxing Team.

Caitlin’s 2024 Bronze Medal – an historic win as the first female to win a boxing medal for Australia – did not come without a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

Despite being Australia’s number one female boxer, a shattering loss in a bout in the lead up to the Rio Olympics (2016) meant she did not secure a berth and then when she did make it to Tokyo (2021) it was all over in nine minutes.

“You compete in three, three minute rounds and if you don’t win you are done,” she said.

That saw Cailtin start to work on her mental fitness with gratitude and mindfulness now a key part of her daily routine.

“I have had 127 fights but I still get incredibly nervous before every single match and it doesn’t matter who I am fighting,” Caitlin said.

But she has a routine to work through that and recommends it to everyone.

Take three deep breaths and then the big five – concentrate on five things you can see, then identify four things you can hear, three things you can touch, two things you can smell and then one thing you can taste.

“And even if I lose there are always things I can be grateful for,” she said.

Caitlin tried a raft of sports before she found her passion for boxing and that is the basis for her advice for anyone.

“When you are passionate about something, try and learn as much as you can,” she said.

Nat Von Bertouch’s message centred on risk taking – a lesson she learned as a 14 year old when she didn’t want to head to State trials and her dad convinced her to take the plunge and she never looked back.

“If you don’t go, you’ll never know,” her father said to her and she has kept that lesson with her every step of the way – not just in her sporting career but ongoing. “I had to use that a lot of times through my career.”

She also made sure both the school, students and evening session attendees were clear you will not always succeed.

“At times you won’t succeed and that is OK but if you don’t put yourself out there you will never know,” Nat said.

She also talked about opportunities often presenting themselves and not always being they way you would have wanted.

And Nat knows that better than most. Her chance at wearing the green and gold came at the expense of her sister Laura when she suffered a knee injury, and her initial elevation to Diamonds captain came when Sharelle McMahon suffered an injury.

Hannah Petty’s story was always going to resonate with her regional audiences as she shared her journey of going from playing A Grade netball with her mother in Wudinna to the sacrifices bot she, and her family, had to make to get her to State trials and other elite pathway opportunities.

“You have to make sacrifices and get out of your comfort zone,” she said.

And it wasn’t smooth sailing for Hannah, despite securing a Super Netball contract straight out of high school.

Injuries have plagued her career but also taught her some valuable life lessons.

“I couldn’t always be on the court but that challenged me to work out how to be the best team mate I could be and what kind of team mate I wanted to be,” Hannah said.

She acknowledged that while things weren’t going how she wanted personally, she has to find a way to empower her team mates.

“The best thing about sport is the people you meet,” Hannah said. “Being part of a group of people who have each other’s back.”

The dual premiership skipper’s success has also been hard earned. She was part of the dark days of the club when wins were few and far between and both Hannah and Nat talked about building team culture through connection and how important that is in building a successful program.

The other takeaway from both the student and community sessions was the need to not just sit in a room like that and be inspired but to put it into action and continue the conversation.

The Limestone Coast Power of Her sessions were the third instalment of the program that launched in August.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGIA PAIGE PHOTOGRAPHY