Sport NSW and Central Coast Council Host Girls Get Active Day
Published Fri 22 Sep 2017
Sport NSW and Central Coast Council came together to host a Girls Get Active Day on Friday 22 September, prior to the inaugural SportsFest Central Coast. The event, designed to encourage more girls to benefit from participation in sport and recreation, took place at Bateau Bay PCYC and involved over 100 girls from five local high-schools, four champion female athletes and seven different sports.
The Girls Get Active event commenced at 9:30am where athletes Kate Jenner (hockey), Sam Poolman (netball), Brodie Smith (goalball) and Kara Lees (softball) engaged in a panel discussion to inspire the audience of female high-school students to participate in sport and active recreation.
At the conclusion of the panel discussion, the students had the opportunity to meet the panellists and experience the various sporting activities on offer including Australian rules football, cricket, croquet, hockey, netball, rugby union and softball.
Sport NSW and Central Coast Council are committed to supporting the future growth and development of sport and active recreation, which in turn sees people enjoy the benefits provided and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Girls Get Active events provide a unique opportunity for young females to engage with women achieving success in the sporting domain and to try a range of sports in a safe environment, with each station facilitated by the panellists and/or staff from the state sporting organisations.
Sport NSW Chief Executive Officer Darren Simpson was thrilled to collaborate with Central Coast Council for the Girls Get Active Day and hoped the event encouraged the female students to participate in sporting activities within their local community.
“Sport NSW was delighted to host this event in conjunction with one of its first Local Government Members, Central Coast Council, and the launch of SportsFest Central Coast is a clear demonstration of Council’s commitment to the future of sport on the Central Coast,” Mr Simpson said.
“The Girls Get Active program focuses on ensuring females feel encouraged and empowered to explore the sporting opportunities available to them, and I hope the successful young sports women inspired the girls to pursue their own sporting dreams.”
Central Coast Council Unit Manager Open Space and Recreation, Mr Brett Sherar said Council plays a key role in building an active and engaged community and participation in sport helps deliver that.
“The Girls Get Active Day was a fantastic initiative which not only provides an opportunity for local girls to try a number of different sports but also to hear from leading sportswomen about their experience at the top of their game and how this has added to the richness of their lives,” Mr Sherar said.
“Central Coast Council is committed to encouraging and promoting local sport and events like this, in the lead up to the inaugural SportsFest Central Coast, demonstrate this.”