What a start to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023! On the eve prior to the opening match in Australia, where the Matildas were matched up against the Republic of Ireland, a Reception was hosted by the Consulate General of Ireland, Sydney, Rosie Keane, and Tourism Ireland, in partnership with our Minerva Network.
The event featured speakers including special guests Irish Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne T.D, the Irish Consulate General, Sydney Rosie Keane, FAI President Gerry McAnaney and Minerva Chairman & Co-Founder Christine McLoughlin AM. Representatives of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 participating nations including Argentina, Australia, Estonia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Poland, the UK, Ukraine and USA gathered on a stunning Sydney winter’s evening at The Calyx, in Sydney’s Royal Botanical Gardens.
Also among the guests were outstanding Minerva Athletes Rachel Lowe (Future Matildas), Georgie Rowe (Rowing), Jemma Smith (Surf Life Saving), Emma Jones (Sailing), Amy Parmenter (Netball), Nicola Barr (AFLW) and Lauren Tischendorf (Ocean Swimming).
Expressing her appreciation to Rosie Keane, Christine McLoughlin AM commented, "We commend your commitment and advocacy for women in sport and shared passion to elevate women’s sport, both in Ireland and Australia. Your significant and ongoing investment, willingness to collaborate and increase the visibility of women in sport as leaders and players is exceptional".
Speaking on the occasion, Christine McLoughlin AM said: “Australia has always been a rich sporting nation but there has been for far too long a big gap in the support that our sporting women have until recently received “off the field”. I’m proud to say that in the last 10 years we've come a long way in Australia to develop, acknowledge, support, and respect our professional sports women and the competitions we play in.
There is no doubt that the extraordinary successes of our national teams and individual sports women in competitions here and overseas have been a significant factor, but at our Minerva Network there has also been a conscious focus on proactively getting behind our women competitors beyond the field.
Six years ago at Minerva Network we defined a purpose: ‘Together We Soar’, as we all work alongside each other to balance sport, life, careers and friendship, to build a stronger future for our female sports leaders beyond the sports field. We asked the athletes what it was they wanted? We listened.
Providing a safe environment, independent from the sporting teams and codes, in which we can pass on life and business skills through a combination of Mentoring, networking and development programs is what we do at the Minerva Network. We now have expanded to more than 500 Australian women athletes working with more than 285 businesswomen – and we do this all on a pro bono basis (in addition to our day jobs!). Some of our Mentors are in fact former Matildas, including Moya Dodd AO, Amy Duggan, and Jessica Mitchell, and some of our earliest Minerva Athletes are now Matildas! 23-year-old Ellie Carpenter Matilda Number 21 (cap number 197), was one of the first professional athletes to join the Minerva Network. When Ellie left Australia to play internationally over 3 years ago that was a pipe dream. Now it’s her reality.
Don’t underestimate the power of a role model, an idol, an icon, a moment that captures the nation. Our Matildas will be these role models. Little girls will be parting their hair like Sam Kerr, kicking it like Caitlin Foord, wearing blue headbands like Ellie Carpenter and tackling like Alanna Kennedy.
Little boys too will wear these women’s names on their Matildas shirts, they’re lining up for autographs and wanting to play like a girl. This has not only a sporting impact, but a social and cultural one too.
It's such a privilege for Australia to welcome Irish Minister Byrne T.D. as he has been such a champion for securing funding programs in Ireland that increase participation and professionalism - and I'm sure we'll see many more Irish women follow in the footsteps of the 'Girls In Green'.”
Following the event it was a “pinch me moment “ to be at Stadium Australia with just under 80,000 fans cheering on the “Girls in Green” and the “Matildas” the following night. If this is a sign of what’s to come then bring it on! The spirit which the Irish and Australian teams embraced the first game on Australian soil encapsulates all that is wonderful about seeing our professional women athletes thrive! Together We Soar.
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