This time last year the Federal Government released a report confirming the very slow return of kids and adults to organised sport and notably team sports.
The trend towards individual and extreme sports was building well before the pandemic disrupted sporting fixtures across the nation.
The Olympics had already showcased the fearlessness and skill of sport climbers, skateboarders and BMX freestylers.
When COVID-19 forced us to try something different, for many of us ‘different’ has proven very appealing.
There has also been a huge step up in the number of Australians ‘exergaming’ — up from less than 10,000 to almost a million, while pilates, mountain biking and canoeing/kayaking all reported strong increases.
These trends are welcome because they demonstrate there is a sport for everyone — and because our region has some spectacular locations to host these activities.
They are also equally capable of generating fairytales and photos that make the back page of our local papers a positive antidote to so many of our everyday challenges.
Last week, it was confirmed that our GV Suns will host one of Australia’s oldest football clubs, Apia Leichardt, for a round-of-32 playoff in the Australia Cup.
From a competition of 775 professional and amateur clubs from across Australia, the GV Suns is now among the final 32 — and we are hosting at home in Shepparton.
It’s a fairytale that belies the years of hard work from all involved.
To date the stories and pictures have reminded us of everything that team sports can embody – right down to the celebration that feels incomplete without the full team’s involvement (and a few supporters).
The club is your other family and through it you build networks, friendships, and find mentors that cut across demographics.
You learn to win and to lose, and to accept, admire and get along with the varying capabilities and personalities that make up your team.
You also learn to be organised, to lead, to follow, to care and to dream.
Fast forward to standing on the freezing sidelines of winter support and you begin to appreciate what it takes to provide these opportunities.
Every fence sign and facility is a business or council confirming their commitment to their community.
Every sponsor, coach, team manager and club committee member gives something more than their time.
And behind these are so many individuals doing their bit to co-ordinate the canteen, transport, boots, scorers, shin/mouth guards, and the, all important, fruit roster.
Ít takes effort but the networks and connections are invaluable.
It’s also interesting to reflect on how sports continue to evolve – not just the variety but also the opportunities.
There are many of us who grew up playing footy and cricket in the backyard with siblings and parents, and kick to kick at school recess and lunch.
We adopted names like Denise Lillee, Rhonda Marsh, and Lethal Leia but we never thought to challenge the norm.
To see these changes in vivid colour and in our backyard, isn’t just about a game well played, it shows a battle well fought, that began with recognising something could change, agreeing that it needed to change and then making the change happen.
Every code, club and team has the potential to bring out the very best in individuals as players and as people – but also for and from our community.
Which just further demonstrates how sport is a powerful vehicle for inclusion, connection, and change – and more than a little magic.
Go Suns.
Linda Nieuwenhuizen is the chief executive of the Committee for Greater Shepparton
