Cumberland United Women's Football Club

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (16:14): I rise to speak today on a dynamic local sporting club which, like so many, thrives on the commitment of volunteers, parents, families and friends, namely, the Cumberland United Women's Football Club. Recently, I had the great pleasure of attending the club's senior presentation night to honour and recognise the under 17s, division 1s, reserves and premier teams. It was a night of high energy as players, families and friends paid tribute to the achievements of the all-female players and their dedication during the season.

I was also delighted to award Bronny Brookes with the Volunteer of the Year award in appreciation of her consistent commitment and hard work to the club. Also on that night, we were treated to the inspirational Di Wallace-Ward recounting how she persisted and triumphed in the previously male-dominated sport of surf lifesaving and ironman competition.

The Hon. P. Caica: Fantastic competitor.

Ms DIGANCE: Yes, incredible persistence and determination—a true role model. The women's football club originated back in the early eighties and it arose from the male Cumberland United Football Club. This women's club was also a major advocate for the establishment of the South Australian Women's Soccer Association in 1995. The club moved its home to the South Australian Women's Memorial Playing Fields at St Marys in 2004, which it still calls home, signalling the establishment of the Cumberland United Women's Football Club.

Women's football is one of the greatest growing participation sports in Australia. The success of our national team, the Matildas—I understand some of its members still call Cumberland United Women's Football club home—and the establishment of the national club-based competition, the W-League, has ensured a strong development path for young girls and women entering the sport.

With the support of the Football Federation of SA, Cumberland United Women's Football Club is one of the oldest and, arguably, one of the most successful women-only clubs. The club is one of eight inaugural FFA National Women's Premier League clubs in SA, fielding teams across all age groups, winning league and cup honours through all grades and providing many players who have gone on to state representative teams.

The club is currently the largest all-female soccer club in South Australia and, I am told, has amongst the largest membership club in the country. In 2017, the club had 235 registered players from ages five to 45 competing in 18 teams, with numbers limited only by the lack of suitable floodlit training areas. There is a very strong focus on junior development, working closely with the Football Federation of SA in encouraging players to start at the MiniRoos level.

Cumberland United Women's Football Club's philosophy of locating and developing their own talent while working with local schools and associations, community clinics and promoting the FFA national curriculum, has seen the junior area of the club grow rapidly. The success of the club has foundations in the strong reputation of inclusivity and community mindedness, with only one rule: if you want to join the club, you must be supportive and respectful of all others. The club values the development of their young women, teaching them respect, commitment, teamwork, persistence, tolerance and integrity.

The club has a dream, which I support, to build and improve the facilities at the SA Women's Memorial Playing Fields so that they can grow and expand and become a real hub for women's soccer. Congratulations, Cumberland United Women's Football Club, on your amazing achievements as we all look forward to a successful and prosperous future.