My family has always been sports mad. We grew up playing every sport imaginable. I remember at one stage I was doing seven different sports from gymnastics to netball, touch footy to swimming, acrobatics to athletics and dancing. My brother played rugby league, cricket and baseball (as well as touch footy and even a go at gymnastics). With my two sisters also doing some of the sports I did, I don’t know how my parents not only managed to afford for us to do all of our sports or how on earth they managed to get us to all of our games and training sessions (all around school and homework and our other day’s activities.) Writing this now it sounds like we were forever running and rushing from one thing to the next but it was never like that at all. Never rushed, never stressed or forced for us, I don’t know if it was for my parents. Just loads of fun. My parents were very involved and supportive taking us to all our trainings, supporting us from the sideline and helping us practice our skills at home.
My dad coached a lot of our teams too, starting with my little brothers rugby league team. This was a sport he has always played at an elite level himself, and then gaining knowledge in which ever sport interested us so he could get as involved as possible whether it be coaching, assistant coaching or managing.
He got his level 1 coaching certificate in gymnastics when my sister and I became involved in it. He coached not only us but lots of kids wanting to become gold medalists at the Olympics. My younger sister and I were right into our gymnastics, training four times a week including all day Sundays. Our competitions were out at Campbelltown starting early, meaning very early starts to get up and ready to be there on time. Our hair was braided with our club’s colours in ribbons neatly threaded through. I have memories of hating getting my hair done as my mom had to pull it so tight, but I always loved the results when she was finished. I had trips away for comps to which my dad would take me. I remember taking other kids whose parents couldn’t go because of work or other commitments and feeling so proud to have my dad there supporting us.
He coached us in touch football too when we all decided to take that up. Again my younger sister and I ended up playing representative touch footy at club, regional and state level. Many years in a row we made the treks to different states to play at State Cup and National Titles. Dad either coached, assistant coached, or managed almost everyone of our teams.
He went on to continue coaching many teams that none of us were involved in, and is now still involved at a high level. He has had many roles on the Australian Touch Football Association Board.
When I started doing really well at athletics he would take me up the local sporting oval to train. Timing me as I did my sprints and practiced my starts.
When it was netball, either mom or dad would take us to games and training sessions and again up to the courts after school or on weekends to practice our shooting or defending against each other. On Saturdays dad would go to footy with my brother and mom would take us girls to netball. We always ended up at footy afterwards and I remember filling up on red frogs from the canteeen.
I have so many wonderful memories of sporting games and trips away. Memories of great wins and heartbreaking losses. But most of all, memories of the fun I would have with my team mates. Of the wonderful friendships I made and the amazing experiences I had.
Today being Grand Final day, I have been thinking about past GF days and the great times we used to have. This will be one of the rare times I wont be watching the game with my family. Mainly because we are staying home so B1 and B2 can be in bed at their normal time and we won’t be traveling during any of the action (it might have been different if either of our teams were playing).
My memories of Grand Final day include family BBQs, playing our own games of touch footy and just loads and loads of fun.
When we were younger we used to go to my Nanna and Poppy’s house for a BBQ. All my cousins, Aunties and Uncles would be there. The kids used to run amok and every year we would head to the near by park to play a game of touch footy, our own versions of the Grand Final.
I remember the men would be in one room listening to the lower grade games on the radio while they had a few beers and discussed the ins and outs of it all. The women would be preparing the food, chatting away, playing with the kids and keeping an eye on us all. The food was always plentiful with there usually being enough left over for dinner too. There was always desert afterwards.
After my dear poppy passed away, we had a few years of our wonderful Grand Final BBQ being hosted by my parents or at my Uncles house. Eventually though, as we all grew up and got married and went in our different directions our extended family BBQs were no more.
My immediate family continue to always have some sort of get together though. Whether it be a full day BBQ or a few drinks and nibbles while we watch and cheer.
I was raised going for the Mighty Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, (I can hear the groans now). My dad used to play for them and I was born over that way. We have been lucky enough to be in some recent Grand Finals and it has been great to be able to experience those winnings with my dad.
My husband is a mad Saint George Dragons supporter as is his whole family. You can imagine the arguments when the twins were born. It has been settled (rather reluctantly from both sides) that B1 will support Manly with her mother and B2 will support the dragons with his father. Until that is, they are old enough to decide for themselves.
I can’t wait to give them the same wonderful Grand Final day memories that I have.
Ang
