Last Friday Morning, DVBA’s General Manager Patrick Di Lizio, some of our dedicated staff, esteemed Board and community members immersed themselves in the empowering 3rd Annual Bendigo Community Bank Nillumbik Shire Council Women in Sport Breakfast event.
The event focused on important themes such as mental health, women’s health, inclusivity, and diversity, highlighting our commitment to positive engagement and meaningful change. It celebrated the impact of hard work and inclusivity, while also exploring ways to overcome challenges and adversity. The event aimed to raise awareness and celebrate the success of women in all areas of sport, recognising their continued efforts and achievements.
Special Guests and Highlights:
Keynote Speaker Australian Sprinter Mia Gross shared her incredible sporting journey, shedding light on the highs, lows, and the unique challenges she faced on her continuous pathway to achieve her ultimate sporting dreams. Including her recent selection, competing and bring home a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She has aspirations to continue to challenge herself and achieve her personal career goals gaining strength and motivation to rise above whatever challenges her dreams.
Keynote Speaker Australian Sprinter Mia Gross shared her incredible sporting journey, shedding light on the highs, lows, and the unique challenges she faced on her continuous pathway to achieve her ultimate sporting dreams. Including her recent selection, competing and bring home a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She has aspirations to continue to challenge herself and achieve her personal career goals gaining strength and motivation to rise above whatever challenges her dreams.
Key panellists who were led by MC’s one of which was Hurstbridge Hurricanes Player and U12 Assistant Coach Abbey Grey who was also a recipient of one of five ‘Champions of Change’ awards for her contribution to women in sport in Nillumbik for 2024. The key panellists were:
Leanne Del Torso – DVBA’s very own Wheelchair Coach and Retired Australian Paralympian.
Leanne Del Torso – DVBA’s very own Wheelchair Coach and Retired Australian Paralympian.
Gabby Seymour – ALFW player and vice-captain of the Richmond Tigers
Penny Davis – Diamond Valley Roller Derby Club Executive and Inclusions Advocate.
Leanne’s final contribution left us all with a powerful message of navigating the challenges for women in sport and always finding was to break barriers, with her parting words from the stage “Challenging us all to think when something gets hard and some-one says no, that there’s another way to do it… someone with a lived experience has to do this has to do so every second of every minute of every day… we are all working hard, we all want to be included, we all want opportunity to be the best version of ourselves and in order to do that you need to believe in yourself and find a way to do it because it can be done.” Lastly inviting anyone interested to join our DVBA wheelchair basketball program where she is the coach, and for everyone to get involved at DVBA where amazing things are happening around inclusivity of all people of all abilities in basketball.
We are so proud as an Association to have had both Leanne and Abbey in roles of significance at this year’s Event. Proudly representing the Junior Domestic and Inclusive sectors of our Association.
Let’s continue at DVBA doing our part championing women in sport and fostering positive change together!