For the first time in its 61-year history, the Eden Killer Whales football team will field three teams in the debut girls’ competition of the Far South Coast Football Association, thanks to vital support from Reflections Holidays.
The participation of the Eden Killer Whales girls teams (Under 9s-10s, Under 10s-12s, and Under 13s-15s) was made possible by the lone sponsorship of Reflections Eden, whose park manager Tiarne Cronk plays in the Whales’ women’s team, and whose 13-year-old daughter will pull on her boots in the all-girls competition.
Ms Cronk believes it is important to support the girls in her community, particularly at a time when their participation rate in soccer was dwindling – and a recent report found that there is an urgent need to encourage Australian girls to play more sport.
“Last year the women’s football team was struggling to get numbers so I decided to play – I am not very good, but I had such a good time, so supporting the foundation of the girls’ team this year was a no-brainer,” said Tiarne, whose young sons also play soccer.
Far South Coast Football Association’s representative teams co-ordinator Peter Rees said the decision by the club to stage the girls’ competition was an historic first, propelled by the popularity of Australia’s female football team, the Matildas, and Australia hosting the World Cup.
“I am over the moon that this is happening, and the clubs have worked really hard to get it off the ground,” Mr Rees said.
“Our club numbers have grown across the board in recent years and in fact 33 per cent of our members are female – and that told us it was time for a stand-alone competition for girls.”
Minister for Lands, Tourism and Sport, Steve Kamper, said Reflections Holidays manages 41 holiday parks on Crown land, with profits reinvested into the parks and reserves on which they are located for the benefit of NSW residents and regional tourism.
“It’s great to see Reflections supporting both regional tourism and sport through initiatives including its sponsorship of the Eden Killer Whales, and the Cadet Cup junior surfing competition which it hosts at its coastal holiday parks,” Mr Kamper said.
Mr Rees and the Association’s president, Matt O’Reilly, said that there were clear benefits of having a stand-alone girls’ competition.
“The girls can get a little left out by the boys in the mixed competitions, but our girls’ registrations have shot through the roof in the last couple of years, so this competition is now possible,” said Mr O’Reilly.
Adds Mr Rees, who has been pivotal in encouraging more girls onto the field and encouraging elite skills: “What I like is that the girls can go out and they decide what happens on the field, there are no boys and it’s all up to them. They are playing under their own right, and that’s what it’s all about as far as I am concerned. The elite players can do both, – play with the girls or play with the mixed competition, and some are doing both.
Ms Cronk, whose father once played for Tathra, said it was a significant milestone for the local community and regional sport to have the all-girls competition, which fostered inclusivity and an increase in participation: “Sport is absolutely crucial, not just for fitness and mental health but to be a part of a team and for building social skills and resilience.”
Ms Cronk said that until the launch of the new 2025 girls’ competition, girls at primary and high schools in Eden were playing in mixed competitions until they reached the age of 16.
“The new league will provide a platform for girls to improve their skills, build confidence, and develop a sense of self-worth in a supportive environment that will hopefully see more girls continue playing football as they move into their teenage years,” she said.
Reflections Eden is sponsoring the Killer Whales over four years, funding the training equipment and uniforms for its three teams.
Reflections CEO Nick Baker said the organisation’s belief that life’s better outside extended to the sporting field, noting that many Reflections parks sponsored or supported local sporting teams who would otherwise struggle to afford miscellaneous costs.
“We’re thrilled that Tiarne and her park team have helped their local competition in Eden off the ground and we can’t wait to see how they perform throughout the season,” Mr Baker said.
Eden’s Killer Whales, who celebrated their 60-year anniversary in 2024, will face off against teams from Tathra, Bega, Bemboka, Wolumla, Merimbula, Pambula, and Mallacoota in the new competition, which kicked off this month.
This press release has also been published on VRITIMES
