The Power of Her brought some big names in the sporting industry to Mount Gambier for two sessions last Thursday at the Wulanda Recreation & Convention Centre.
The event was proudly supported by the Limestone Coast Local Government Association in partnership with the Office for Recreation Sport and Racing, City of Mount Gambier and the University of SA.
Channel 9 News Presenter Alice Monfries hosted the sessions alongside guest speakers former Australian Diamonds captain Natalie von Bertouch, Thunderbirds premiership captain Hannah Petty, Paris 2024 Olympics bronze medallist Caitlin Parker and representatives from The Embrace Collective, Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia and Play Like a Girl Australia.
The first session saw 150 students from five local schools in attendance while the second installation was attended by members of the general public including parents, coaches and players of local sporting clubs.
Limestone Coast Local Government Association connected and active communities officer Tony Elletson said organisers were lucky to have such a great range of presenters.
“It shows you the whole Limestone Coast is a place people want to come to. I think it is a great showcase of what we can do,” he said.
“The morning session was really about getting a group of girls together to make sure they’re safe, they feel like they’re in a place that’s about them and the focus is on them.
“It’s that time of year where we would love to have more [schools in attendance], but with exams and everything like that and formals we are really pleased with the amount of people that have come through the door.
“We wanted to give young girls the opportunity to hear some stories and get some resources and understanding about some of the barriers they face … but also the opportunities that are there for them to actually push through those barriers.
“There is also a lot of good in sport and there is a lot of good people out there doing great things and that’s what today is all about so that’s what today is all about … but also recognising there are some barriers and providing ways that we can break down those barriers.
“Whether it be sport of life, we just wanted to make sure they were given the opportunity to see that.”
Mr Elletson said he believes everyone should be able to feel comfortable while playing sport.
“If people like that are willing to talk about the uncomfortable things and we can do that face to face and we can have those conversations then it’s only going to be the better for everyone,” he said.
“Everyone has the same issues, it’s just on a different scale.
“What we are trying to do with the connected and active communities program is get out to the clubs and make them understand there’s opportunities for ways to address this.
“These sort of things, if you can address them early, your club becomes more successful, you become more welcoming and more people want to be at your club which is only going to be more beneficial for those clubs.”
