Footy’s new guard
LOCAL AFL is just days away from launching its latest season, and standing at the helm is some of Townsville’s top female sports administrators.
Half of Townsville’s eight AFL clubs have female presidents or vice- presidents — the highest number in the competition’s history — and all have a driving passion to take the local game to even greater heights.
They are all mothers who hold down full- time jobs, but they have a love of AFL that knows no bounds.
Overseeing it all is AFL Townsville regional manager Kath Newman, who has held her position for the past four years.
Behind Newman is a growing army of female administrators led by Northern Beaches president Kylie Thomas, University Hawks president Nish McDougal, Hermit Park Tigers vice- president Jodie Sewer and Garbutt Bombers president Angie Akee.
“There were probably a few people who were sceptical I could handle the job, but I had tremendous local support as well as from AFL Queensland,” said Newman, who is a former physical education teacher at William Ross High.
“Women’s roles in sport aren’t sex- stereotypical any more — things have done a complete 180 degrees.
“It isn’t a case of the secretary always being a woman now, it isn’t always a male who is president.
“Everyone gets in there to make footy work, and it is the best person for the job who gets the position.
“Women are bringing a different point of view and set of skills to the sport — looking at making changes where necessary with fresh eyes and a new approach.”
The same passion is evident in McDougal, who had no qualms stepping in as first fe- male president of University.
After volunteering her time for the past eight years across a range of roles, the 34- year- old now not only runs the club but also plays in the women’s team the Hawkettes.
“After volunteering for so many years, I was keen to see certain things happen with the club — and if you want things run a certain way, then the only way for that to happen is to get involved, and put your hand up,” McDougal said.
Thomas, 40, is relishing her first year as president of the new Northern Beaches Suns, formed last year when junior AFL club Barras merged with senior club Lions.
“I’ve done all the usual mum stuff when my two boys Byron and Ky were playing — helping out in the canteen, running water, being a team manager and being a part of previous club committees,’’ she said
“I put my hand up f or t he president’s j ob because t here was t he opportunity t o s hap t he culture and development of our cl ub i n i t s new f ormat.”
Sewer is now in her third year as club vice- president of Hermit Park, alongside husband David as president.
“We’ve never been a maledominated club, we’ve always had a strong core of women in roles of responsibility,” Sewer said, who is also deputy principal of Mundingburra State School.