The Australian Flag Saga

What the hell am I on about?

Well for those of you who don't know, there's been some debate in Australia about creating a sporting flag that differentiates from the original Australian flag for elite athletes to wear when representing our country.

Olympians, tennis champions, the Aussie cricket team, footballers and the like, would be expected to fly this flag

Instead of this one.

Via

To be honest I don't know how serious these debates are, but let's hope that the 'pro sports flag supporters' stop drinking too many red cans and consider the following:

What's in a flag? Is it just a piece of material with a couple of symbols on it to distinguish between one country and the next? 

I think not.

For me, the flag represents a countries past, present and future.

On the Australian flag, the Union Jack represents white peoples early settlement of the country, the Southern Cross represents that we're from the Southern Hemisphere, and the blue represents that we're surrounded by ocean.

But I'd have to argue that the flag is even more than that.

The flag represents pride in our nation and our heritage, the multiculturalism, and the amazing place that Australia is to call home with freedom of speech, peace and security.

The flag represents respect for our heritage and the brave soldiers who have fought to protect our country.

Bearing the Australian flag is an honour because you are representing your country and all that it stands for.

So if you look beyond the actual physical flag, you can see the true value that it has to a country: pride, respect and honour for a countries past, present and future.

Why then would you want to change the flag that tells the story of our country? Are you not proud of what it represents? Would you like to erase our history? 

And to be incredibly honest, if we were going to change the flag and remove the Union Jack, shouldn't we replace it with an Aboriginal symbol, for they were the first people to call Australian home?

Via

Just some food for thought.

What do you think? Should we change the flag for sporting events?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

What makes a great sporting club?

As my time at my beloved Adelaide Lutheran Football and Netball club comes to an end, it has left me thinking about why I am so attached to the club, and why it is going to be sad to leave.

After all, it's just sport isn't it? It's just a club? I can just go and join another one?

This is true, but I have a HUGE emotional ATTACHMENT to Adelaide Lutheran.

It has got me thinking.

A typical social event with copious amounts of alcohol including $3 punch with everyone dressed up and ready to party!

What is it that makes a club so amazing?

Is it the people? 

Is it the quality of the sport?

Is it feeling a sense of belonging? 

Is it the food and alcohol? 

Is it the on court fun or the off court fun or both?

The girls at African Safari night!

When I asked myself these questions I came up with a list of 10 things that makes my club amazing.

1. Adelaide Lutheran Sporting Club is more than just a place to take the field and court to battle out of your heart on a Saturday. It really is a home away from home for so many country kids who leave the safe haven of their small community towns where they grew up in search for a career and experiences in Adelaide. It's a place where you feel safe and welcomed and where you truly feel like you belong and you are truly appreciated.

Just a glimpse of some of the girls who play for the club!

2. The people are so friendly and welcoming. Believe it or not but with 150 netball girls there is barely any bitching. Your team mates and club members become like your family. I guess this is because most of us have left our family behind in the country, so we rely on the support of other players to score, time, umpire and to cheer us on and encourage us from the sidelines. You only have to wait for the football and netball finals to see how many girls and guys from the club come out to support each other with loud voices and an esky full of beverages. I have also met so many amazing people from all over South Australia and beyond, who I know I will keep in touch with in the future.

I met Sarah through the Doggies and I was in her wedding in December 2011.

3. The atmosphere. Nothing beats heading back to the warm club rooms that have been heated by a wood fire after training on a Thursday night to enjoy our volunteer chefs amazing feeds. Nothing beats walking, skipping or running up to the bar for a cold beverage after a long day at work or hard training. Nothing beats playing netball on a Saturday and then heading over to the club rooms to support the boys playing footy with a meat pie and sauce while devouring a cider. It's always a relaxed, friendly atmosphere at the club.

Being a crazy nutter who stole someone elses super cool costume at 80s night!

A whoop! 2011 Premiers!

4. The social events. Wow. Just wow. You are actually the odd one out if you don't come dressed up. We've had events ranging from cocktail balls to Eighties nights to book character nights to Mexican nights with mechanical balls to quiz nights, horse racing nights and well just a normal Saturday at the club can turn into a raging party. Everyone is up for a good time. Everyone loves to have a dance and to belt out the golden old school tunes and everyone likes to drink a lot.

There's always plenty of tequila and coronas at Mexican Night!

Tight and Bright night!

African Safari Night!

5. The quality of the netballers (and footballers for the boys). There is so much talent out there. It's great knowing that no matter what grade you will be placed in that the girls know how to play and have fun doing it.

Going straight to number 1!

6. There's no pressure to give anything but 100%. The club values a good attitude, sportsmanship and having fun over the pressure to win all of the time. Of course, winning is always a bonus but it's not the focus.

It's more about the friendships you make, giving 100%, getting back to the club and having a beverage and having FUN!

7. Did I mention the food? Haha it's truly amazing.

We have a slight obsession with Weissy's burgers (note these are miniture lollies, the actual burgers would make your mouth water!)

8. The volunteers. Our club rarely runs on rosters. Okay, so there's an umpires roster but the girls put up their hand to go on it. There's no bar roster. The bar manager sends out a call for helpers and people put their hand up to help. It's truly inspiring. Everyone who volunteers goes above and beyond what is expected of them. Some put in more hours behind the scenes then we can ever truly comprehend. Even on a Saturday night the football president and his helpers come out and run the bar so that everyone can enjoy themselves (which we are ALL grateful for!)

Those that do help are appreciated come Presentation Day, usually with a bottle of wine or a small gift :)

9. Everyone respects everyone. No joke. There's no bitching about the president's or anyone for that matter. Everyone supports and appreciates the hard work of those who go above and beyond.

Mexican Night as tacos!

10. It's fun, SO much fun. I have met some of my best friends through the club. In fact, I was in one of the girls wedding last year. I've been to Victor Harbour, the Barossa Valley the Gold Coast theme parks, and soon I'll be going to the horses races in Melbourne for our netball trips. Everyone ranges from the ages of 17-40. Everyone is out to have fun and socialise and get involved. The club makes me feel as though playing netball is such a small part of the overall fun of being involved.

Netball trip to Queensland. We went and saw Outback Spectacular! Amazing!

Just a sneak peak at some of the antics that we get up to!

I love Adelaide Lutheran Sporting Club and I thank it for teaching me that sport is so much more then taking the court, that you get in what you put out, that it's important to get behind your club by going to social events and going back to the club for tea and by putting up your hand and that a country kid can fit into the city through the sense of community that a club creates.

We even went to Movie World in Queensland on a netball trip!

Does your club sound like mine? Do you love your club? Why/why not? Do you get involved or do you bitch about those who are involved?

Mad Monday!

I'm going to miss Adelaide Lutheran but I'll be sure to visit when we come back to Adelaide.

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty.

Why sport is so much more than taking the court for me.

Adelaide Lutheran Sporting Club

Sport. A huge part of Australian culture. A huge part of a small country towns culture.

I grew up living and breathing sport. If I wasn’t taking the court playing netball on a Saturday, I was swimming laps or shooting hops or running for athletics.

Sport was my life. To be honest, my attitude sucked. I was a hormonal teenager. I took the court, played hard, sometimes back chatted to the umpires, then I left without saying thanks to my couch and ate my pie and strutted my stuff around the oval.

I honestly had no idea about what went on behind the scenes to enable me to take the court every Saturday. No idea at all. I just played.

When I moved to Adelaide a great friend of mine introduced me to the Adelaide Lutheran Sporting Club. My attitude towards sport changed.

I have since played for the club for 6 years. In that time I have been on the very active Social Committee, I have been the netball representative, coached, umpired, played and I have had the fun job of helping to organise the annual netball trip shenanigans.

I have realised just what makes a club run successfully…the people behind it.

The size of some peoples hearts astounds me. Many who volunteer their time work full time, study, run businesses, have families and usually have their fingers in many other pies.

From the trainers, to the bar operator, to the amazing guy who feels our bellies with delicious food every Thursday and Saturday night, to the netball and football presidents who put in hundreds of hours every year to keep the club running, to the umpires, timers, scorers, social committee team, maintenance, website designer, newsletter writer and so much more! The list goes on.

These people volunteer their time out of the goodness of their heart.

The club has a great sense of community. People are only too happy to cover the bar for an hour before their game, the players are always keen to get their kit and caboodle on to party at the social events, money squares are passed around to raise money for injured players, girls stay back to time for other players games, people help out behind the kitchen, some even rock up on a Sunday after a social event to clean up and many help to run a BBQ every Saturday morning for the youngsters. It's amazing.

You don’t realise how much hard work goes in until you become involved. Until you treat sport as more than just rocking up and playing on the day.

There’s nothing wrong with just playing. Not at all. But I promise you will feel a greater sense of community, belonging, achievement, satisfaction, pride and awareness if you put your hand up to help off of the court.

I would NEVER bitch about club presidents, secretaries and those people that put their hands up year after year to help make a club run. They deserve a medal. They are what keep clubs going. They are who keep your subs down, help with grading, make sure umpires are available each week, do the paper smacher work, attend meetings and so much more.

So next time you rock up to play, say a big thanks to your coach, tap your president on the shoulder and let them know just how much you appreciate them, and at the least, get back to the bar for a feed or a drink to support your club.

The people behind the scenes are what keep a club running.

They deserve your support.

Maybe next time the call is placed for people to join committees, or become a club representative, or help out with teas, or umpire, or score, or to grab a sponsor, you might consider putting your hand up. It isn't as scary as it seems.

Look after yourself and those around you.

Kirsty xxx