The Bendigo Bank Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL is dedicating this weekend’s fixtures, which coincides with Mother’s Day weekend, as our annual “Respect for Women” Round. The objective of the Round is to highlight and recognize the important role that women play in our game, and in the country football & netball leagues and clubs throughout the region. There are a vast number of females involved in every aspect of football whether it is playing the game, umpiring, coaching or working in a variety of capacities for a club, league or state body. Despite the roles, everyone is working towards a common goal and that is to continue to grow and improve female involvement in the game.
Further, by highlighting this fixture across the AFL Goldfields Region is hoping to raise awareness of the pivotal role women play in our game at all levels and to help them gain the recognition they deserve, whilst inspiring others who are following in their footsteps. Women are perhaps the quiet achievers in the ranks of “footy”, and given their obvious talents and skills, they richly deserve the opportunity to showcase their achievements.
As an organisation with a strong emphasis on community and social responsibility, the MCDFNL has worked very hard to support a number of important women’s causes in recent years with AFL Goldfields Regional General Manager Rod Ward has been a White Ribbon Ambassador for six years, Notably, the MCDFNL were amongst the first community leagues in Australia to roll out the AFL's Respect and Responsibility program, which has been introduced to half of the MCDFNL’s clubs already and will continue to be rolled out during the 2014 season, which includes training sessions at all Clubs to include a range of topics (Binge drinking, drug education, depression) but significantly also addressed violence against women and to work towards creating safe, supportive and inclusive environments for women and girls across the football industry as well as the broader community.
In 2012 the MCDFNL are also implementing the “Fair Game Respect Matters” program that is designed to shift attitudes that have been historically embedded in the industry in an effort to make it clear that behaviour that demeans, harasses or harms women will not be part of this sporting code moving forward. This program is being used as a social change vehicle and it’s hoped that all Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League clubs will contribute to the change of attitude in this area.
The MCDFNL is also proud to introduce a Youth Girls football side into the Ballarat FNL’s Youth Girls competition in 2014, with their debut in the competition happening this weekend at Jubilee Oval on Sunday 11th May. Youth Girls football is currently the fastest-growing football segment in Australia, and the MCDFNL is very excited about the girls taking to the field for the first time this weekend!
Many Clubs have been fantastic in putting in place initiatives this weekend to recognise the contribution women make to their clubs. Several Clubs are hosting “Mothers Day” luncheons (or a Ladies “High Tea”), several have discounted gate prices or will offer free entry for female members, and some have invited a female Life Member to “flip the coin” at the start of each game. We thank all Clubs that have got behind the theme of the round and supported such a great cause.
The MCDFNL “Respect for Women” Round is about celebrating and recognising the important role women play in our league, and it is also another key step in shifting attitudes and designing initiatives to recognise the unique role women play in our game, and to ensure the principles of ‘respect’, ‘responsibility’ and ‘participation’ are foundations on which the MCDFNL and club cultures are built.
Last Modified on 07/05/2014 14:08