Women's rugby league pioneer Katrina Fanning says keeping girls in sport is her number one priority after being named the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council chairwoman on Tuesday.
Fanning replaces federal politician Linda Burney while former NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley has become a member of the council.
Katrina Fanning was named the new Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council chairwoman on Tuesday. Credit:Elesa Kurtz
Fanning, a Wiradjuri woman from Junee, was a member of the inaugural Jillaroos team in 1995, played 26 Tests for Australia and has been on the ARLIC board since 2012.
The ARLIC represents the more than 12 per cent of indigenous NRL players and almost 20 per cent of grassroots players who hail from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
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"It's pretty exciting. I've been involved with council for little while but I'm looking forward to a different role and leading good group of people which makes it fun," Fanning said.
"Next year it all starts with the indigenous Maoris game so that will be big and there's more changes coming that were almost at the start line for.
"In the last few months we've achieved the highest level of reconciliation action plan so plenty of work to be done to make sure we live up to that standard."
Fanning emphasised she was keen to keep young girls playing sport and drew on her own childhood as evidence that rugby league empowers young women.
"For me it's a strong commitment to women's participation in the game and trying to maintain and grow opportunities for girls and women to play right across the country and not just in major cities," Fanning said.
"The particular focus for me is kids because around 12 years of age kids in all sports participation seems to be dropping. But I honestly believe if we can keep kids engaged, particularly in team sport, their approach to school and own resilience and growth is substantially helped.
"It's about getting players on the park but for me it's about how to set kids up for life and give them much higher aspirations than if left to their own devices.
"I grew up in Junee and that's a rugby league town and the way it brings the community together, even in tough times it gives you something to get behind and believe in.
"Just the confidence you get from team sports, can learn a lot about life lessons and how to get through things, skills your can use in your adult life."
Fanning praised Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie for his commitment to women's rugby league.
"From the early days when we were lucky to get the in-goal to train in to being treated with such equality and respect is just fantastic and at all levels," Fanning said.
"Girls are being given an opportunity and just the way it's been approached now, to see the growth of female participation as a part of core business and not just tacked on is fantastic."
Eamonn Tiernan is a sports reporter with The Canberra Times
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