Over 1.4 million people play AFL across Australia. For Sarah Loh, this is one of the best things about sport – how it brings people together and creates a sense of mateship and community, regardless of your age or gender.
Transcript:
[Sarah Loh]: The thing I love about football, and it’s so connected to Australian culture and values, is that everyone is equal. That anyone, irrespective of where you come from or what gender you are, you get to have a go.I coach a masters women’s team and to watch 40, 50 and 60-year-old women, who are your aunties and your grandmothers and your mothers play this sport. And to be part of something of such an Australian culture — how wonderful is that?
They love it. They love all the friendships, and just to see their confidence grow and how they put their shoulders back and go ‘hey, I’m a football player’ is wonderful to see.
The part of the Australian culture that I love the most is the mateship. When you make friends through an activity like sport — there’s nothing better than feeling like you belong.
A strong community in Australia means to me, connecting to people in your school, people in your community, people in sport — and that to me is an amazing thing I get to be part of.
The one piece of advice that I would give, whether they’re seven years of age or 70 years of age, have a go. Just try different things, don’t be afraid. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what your beliefs are — it’s about having a go.
For Sarah Loh, the equality of opportunity sport provides Australians is one of the best examples of the Australian values in action.
Learn about the Australian values.
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