Women in League Function – 100-4-100
Simon McGuinness
The Federal Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon. Kate Lundy, yesterday joined NRL Ambassadors Alan Tongue, Nathan Hindmarsh and Mario Fenech to celebrate the role of the ACT’s female Rugby League supporters at the 2013 Canberra Harvey Norman Women in League event.
Senator Lundy spoke at the dinner, which was the second of four official NRL events across Australia, to celebrate the contribution women make to the game in the lead-up to next week’s 2013 Harvey Norman Women in League Round.
Raiders skipper Terry Campese and wife Sarah and Jarrod Croker and his partner Brittney Wicks joined more than 100 female guests at the dinner at The Boat House by the Lake in Barton.
“Harvey Norman Women in League is now in its seventh year and we’re thrilled to be able to pay tribute to the women of Canberra this evening,” said Ms Trish Crews, NRL General Manager of Community, Culture and Diversity.
“Over the past year, participation in Rugby League across the ACT has grown steadily. In 2012, more than 10,000 registered players and school children engaged with Rugby League, and this year the game has already reached 1800 people through gala days and competitions.
“Female participation is expected to grow in line with this trend, with an all-female Under 14 and 15 competition scheduled to launch later this month in Canberra.”
Across Australia, women’s interest and involvement with Rugby League is at an all-time high with a 20 per cent increase in female registrations in 2012 (5,801 in 2012; 4,814 in 2011), and a 100 per cent increase in registered female coaches (172 in 2012; 86 in 2011).
2013 registrations are still being calculated, but early indications show female participation is continuing to increase nationally, while coaching numbers have already risen 50 per cent to 263.
Sharing the spotlight with the ambassadors and players at the dinner was Karen Ebsworth, who has dedicated almost two decades of service to Canberra Region Rugby League (CRRL).
Joining the CRRL as an administration assistant in 1996, Ebsworth worked her way through the organisation to her current role as Executive Officer, which she has held for the past 10 years.
Ebsworth manages everything from fundraising and accounting, to setting up the draws, booking grounds and the judiciary for 32 junior and senior teams.
Together with Ebsworth’s Junior Football Administrator, Nikki McLean, and First Aid officer, Barbara Pfeiffer, the trio of women run Canberra’s grass roots Rugby League operation.
Ebsworth has a strong vision for women’s Rugby League in Canberra, with a new U14 and U15 all-female competition to launch later this month.
To further celebrate the Women in League function, the Raiders invited 10 of their most passionate female Members as part of the club’s 100-4-100 membership initiative.
“It was a really good night and I really enjoyed it,” said Michelle Halpin #561.
“Alan Tongue did a really good job as MC on the night and Jarrod Croker’s partner was really funny with some of the answers that she gave about him.
“It’s a great thing that the NRL does recognising the contribution of women to rugby league. I’ve been a Member of the Raiders for about 16 years now so hopefully events like this encourage more women to follow the game and volunteer at their local club.”
The other nine Members who enjoyed the occasion were Toni McInerney #1417, Emina Poskovic #5570, Adelaide Jones #4255, Amie Jackson # 8587, Dannielle Stewart #3275, Frances Heaney #242, Jodie Clarke #3972, Megan Street # 975 and Rebecca Jakubaszek #6195.
A women's rugby team from Australia in the 1930s 
Australia's  (NRL) is to celebrate "Women in League" week, starting yesterday, with themes including sons, raising funds for  support, and club-related specials to encourage women to attend rugby league games.  The week-long celebration of women was started in 2006 to highlight the importance of women to the sport and make the game female-friendlier.

The NRL is planning to celebrate the week in a number of ways, including having teams compete in pink uniforms, and having fans vote for the NRL player fans believe "acts as a role model for mothers and families; someone who continues to impress us on the field, however their off-field characteristics embody what it is we love about rugby league". Additionally, funds are to be raised for the , a charity dedicated to breast cancer support and education, and the Women in League Achievement Award will be given out with the winner earning a 5,000 gift card to , an Australian electronics store.
The 2005 Brisbane women's rugby league grand final between Brothers Ipswich vs West Centenary. 
The NRL has been promoting the event on their Women in League Facebook page. In the past month, their Facebook updates have included posts featuring male players discussing support they received from women in their lives, sales of pink coloured NRL merchandise, plugs encouraging people to vote for their favourite son, pictures of men supporting Women in League, NRL club promotions for tickets and other events connected to Women in League, and information on a school visit promoting anti-bullying. The Facebook page has also promoted women's participation and profiles of women's players as recently as a month ago, when on April 9, it promoted the  Girls 'Come and Try' Day in Canberra.  Prior to that, women were last promoted as players on February 10 when pictures were shared of the Women's All Stars team match with the Indigenous All Stars team.

140,000 women in Australia are involved with rugby league as players, sport administrators, coaches, employees, club members, or volunteers. Karen Hardy of '''' estimates this number could easily be quadrupled if wives, girlfriends, mothers, and other female family members who support male players were included.  Participation is also increasing, with almost a thousand new female players taking up the sport between 2011 and 2012 for 5,801 total registered female players in 2012.


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