Monday, 5 March 2018

Women’s sport was the winner this weekend, as the Collingwood Magpies touched down in the Latrobe Valley for a blockbuster football-netball double header.

Today’s round five AFLW clash between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs at Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve followed a sold out Super Netball practice game between the Pies and Adelaide Thunderbirds in Traralgon yesterday.

The bumper weekend celebrated International Women’s Day, which falls this Thursday, and ‘Change our Game,’ a new initiative aiming to increase leadership and participation of women and girls at all levels in sport.

Change our Game is being led by the government’s recently established Office for Women in Sport and Recreation. Former champion cyclist, Dr Bridie O’Donnell is the head of this new organisation, and was at today’s match alongside member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing MP to support the important role women play in sport.
This weekend’s matches, and next Saturday’s JLT Community Series game featuring the Magpies and Bulldogs, stem from the recently-announced partnership between Collingwood and the Victorian government through the $85 million Latrobe Valley Sport and Community Initiative.

Led by Latrobe Valley Authority, the LVSCI is supporting women’s participation in sport by ensuring female-friendly facilities feature in its major infrastructure program, and keeping elite women’s sport central in its major events and community outreach programs.

Quotes attributable to the Premier/LVA acting CEO Mike Timpano:

“Sport is at the heart of our communities, and the Latrobe Valley’s women and girls deserve first-class facilities.”
“These events aren’t just entertainment; they say to the rest of Victoria that the Latrobe Valley is a great place to visit and to call home.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“Through the government’s support, events like this bumper weekend of women’s sport have helped boost the visitor economy and create jobs – not just in our hotels and restaurants but in the local companies building the top-notch facilities funded through the Latrobe Valley Authority.”

Quotes attributable to the Head of Office for Women in Sport and Recreation Bridie O’Donnell:

“The Valley has a strong sporting culture and we are working to support the local community to build an even more welcoming environment for women and girls of all ages once they take that first step into sport and recreation.”

Quotes attributable to President Collingwood Football Club Eddie McGuire:

“We are tremendously proud to partner with the State Government and use the power of sport to bring significant social and economic benefits to the Latrobe Valley region.”
“Collingwood seeks to be a leader in supporting gender equality, in further developing women’s sport and in operating a successful, exciting women’s teams in netball and AFLW, both of which are putting on a fantastic show in the Valley this weekend.”