Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2017

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GIRLS GRAMMAR PARTNERING WITH BRISBANE ROAR

Brisbane Roar Women’s Football Club Coach and players, Mel Andreatta, Angela Beard and Allira Toby; with Girls Grammar Football Captains Meg Charlton (12R) and Annabel Charlton (12R), and Girls Grammar Open Team Coach, David Joncheff

AUTHOR Ms Sally Northcroft Director of Sport

The idea that a club could access a sporting field owned by a school is not unique in itself; however, the plan to develop a partnership that provides elite athletes with excellent facilities while involving them in the development of an entire school football programme is unchartered. This partnership sends a clear message to current Girls Grammar athletes and coaches that we take them seriously and there is a plan for their development that would go much further than the delivery of the occasional football skills clinic. I am particularly excited to be a part of making this partnership come to fruition. For the girls who play football for the School, and all other girls who train at Rangakarra, it is an opportunity to have their motivation and pursuit of excellence through sport affirmed. When girls see other young women striving for and reaching their dreams, they believe that it is something that they too can achieve. The partnership is an outstanding opportunity for Grammar girls to learn from and be challenged and inspired by these elite sportswomen. Ms Andreatta said that she is delighted to have a new training base of such an excellent standard for the Roar Women’s programme and the opportunity to train at a wonderful venue with a school with so much history is an absolute privilege for the Roar women players. ‘The partnership is not only about football but also educating, mentoring and providing a pathway for Girls Grammar students,’ Ms Andreatta said. At the first whole School Assembly in Term II 2017, Girls Grammar Football Captains very proudly handed two jerseys signed by the BRWFC to Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, in recognition of the partnership and thanks for the support given to the team by the School.

IN LATE SPRING 2016, I WAS INTRODUCED TO MS MEL ANDREATTA THROUGH GRAMMAR WOMAN (AND CURRENT WOMEN’S BIG BASH LEAGUE QUEENSLAND HEAT PLAYER), KIRBY SHORT (2003). MEL HAD JUST BEEN NAMED AS THE HEAD COACH OF THE BRISBANE ROAR WOMEN’S FOOTBALL CLUB (BRWFC) AND WAS SEARCHING FOR A PRACTICE VENUE FOR THE TEAM WHERE THEY COULD TRAIN OUTSIDE OF REGULAR WORKING HOURS. Discussions between myself and Ms Andreatta explored shared philosophies that are perpetuated across the spectrum of sport at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. That is, to value the efforts that girls make in sport — encourage and mentor them to become outstanding citizens in both sport and in the world beyond the playing field. Based on our mutual ideals, we realised that there was an opportunity to create history, perhaps not only in Brisbane and/or Queensland, but possibly internationally, by working together. A partnership ensued that grants the Roar’s National Premier League’s Queensland 2017 Women’s Squad access to our Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre playing fields as their home training ground for this season. In return, the Roar coaching staff and squad members are delivering a programme of mentoring and skills-building activities to Girls Grammar footballers and our coaches. It was timely (and perhaps befitting of the occasion) that the partnership was announced in the week of International Women’s Day and Female Football Week.

GRAMMAR GAZETTE