CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms WHITE (Lyons—Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health) (09:57): I'm really proud to get up today to recognise the volunteers in my community who support local footy. Footy is a pretty important part of regional life in Tassie, with country clubs and bigger, more urban centred clubs being a big part and a big feature of many weekends over the winter months.
Our local clubs bring people together, but they do rely on the dedication of players, coaches and volunteers, and families and supporters who give their time through the week and on the weekends to make sure we can keep the game going. I want to particularly recognise the Deloraine Kangaroos and the women's team who, for the very first time, made a grand final appearance.
They've been working incredibly hard all season. It was really exciting to see them reach a grand final, which is such a massive moment for any sporting club. From the Deloraine Roos women's team, I want to congratulate all the players who kept turning up to training and who put in such a huge effort on the ground every weekend, the coaches and everyone in their clubs for helping to support those women.
Unfortunately it didn't get there this year, but it's really set in place fantastic foundations for the club to continue to build on next year. I also want to congratulate the Brighton Robins on their first season, fielding a women's team in the SFL Premier League. It's been a massive year for the women's team at the Brighton Robins.
When I spoke at the club's ladies day, I heard how the women had been borrowing GPS tracking vests from the men's team so that they could ensure their training was as good as the men's training and that wearing them on game day was a bit challenging. So I chipped in to buy three GPS tracking vests for the women and was really proud to see another sponsor match that so that the women had the same access to the training kit that the blokes get.
The women were fantastic. They faced a pretty tough introduction on the competition grounds. Despite that, they kept turning up week after week and motivating one another.
In the final game of the season, they kicked their very first goal in the SFLW, which was a very fitting way for them to finish off that season. I wish them all the very best for next year. As club president Phil Dodge has said, the scoreboard doesn't tell the whole story.
They'd already won by being there. They're building new opportunities for others to follow, and they are showing young girls that they can play any sport anywhere and especially at the Premier League level. So I want to congratulate that fantastic team.
I'm really proud when I see clubs backing women's footy. It's certainly something we've seen develop enormously across the country in recent decades, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what both of those teams achieve next season. I'll just finish by thanking all of the volunteers.