Newcastle Roller Derby League gets colourful, with momentous event for annual pride round

Following the Manly pride jersey scandal, the Newcastle Roller Derby League president agrees it would be great for the Knights to have their own pride round, as their gear up for their very own annual pride event.

While NRL club Manly might be trying to move on from the debacle that was their rainbow themed jersey, the move by seven players to boycott the game has reignited support from other sporting codes for inclusivity in sport.

Ahead of a momentous annual pride round, President of the Newcastle Roller Derby League has labelled the pride jersey scandal ‘ridiculous’.

“My thoughts, sport is for everyone and nobody should be excluded from it,” Zoe Llewellyn – aka Moxie Monoxide – said.

The controversial Manly Sea Eagles rainbow pride jersey (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Asked if a pride round for the Newcastle Knights NRL team would be a good idea? “Absolutely” according to the 13-year roller derby veteran.

“You’ve got to be careful about performative allyship, you don’t want to be putting rainbows on things just for the sake of it, but it’s really important to show people that they’re accepted and sport is for them and for everyone,” Ms Llewellyn said.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, you should have access to it.”

Fellow roller derby competitor Beth Milross – aka Bi-Furious – who plays for the Bogey Rollers, also agrees the controversial stance by Manly players was uncalled for.

“As someone in the queer community it’s just offensive,” she said.

“For me it’s upsetting for someone to be upset by a rainbow.

“I know some of them are reciting religious reasons but I can’t not be offended.”

After watching movie ‘Whip it’, Ms Milross – a keen soccer player, skier and snowboarder – learned to skate in 2018 with the University of Sydney before moving to play roller derby in the inner west.

She later moved to Newcastle and became part of the local roller derby community, humbled by their dedication and support.

“The fact they have a dedicated ground supporting pride and showing the league’s commitment to pride makes me really happy to have joined this league and moved up here into such an accepting community,” Ms Milross said.

This weekend, the Hunter league will join forces with Newcastle Junior Roller Derby to play two action-packed games at the Newcastle Showgrounds Exhibition Centre at Broadmeadow.

After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, the annual roller derby pride round will open with a rainbow versus unicorns bout before popular adult home teams, reigning 2019 champions the Fort Smashleys, and the Bogey Rollers face off in the second clash of the 2022 season.

“It is our celebration of the queer community, there’s a lot of overlap and there always has been between roller derby and the queer community and we’re big supporters of all our people on the LGBTQI plus rainbow,” Ms Llewellyn said.

“We really want to celebrate it, celebrating love in all its forms.

Fort Smashleys Emily Brollo – aka Silver Hammer – in action at roller derby. Supplied.

“It’s super exciting and our pride round has previously been our biggest event of the year, it’s an amazing vibe.”

The referees will ditch the black and white uniform for rainbow stripes and the event will also feature stalls, best dressed prizes, free face painting and an appearance by local drag performer Foxxe Faux.

“We really go all out for our pride round,” she said.

Meanwhile, Fort Smashleys blocker Emily Brollo – aka Silver Hammer – started roller derby in 2019 and although what first attracted by the rollerskates, fishnets and the spectacle, she quickly realised it was a serious and competitive sport.

“It’s a serious sport, you train hard and think about your fitness, it’s quite competitive,” she said.

“Lucky I can stay on my feet.”

The 42-year-old said it’s great to celebrate annual pride round, important in making it a safe and inclusive sport for everyone.

“I love the community, it’s really the best bunch of people, super supportive and inclusive, welcoming and challenging,” Ms Brollo said.

“Not often as a woman you get to play a full contact sport, where you get to be tough.

“We welcome non-binary folk, trans women, making sure we make our league and our bouts space for the LGBTI plus community. Showing how we proud we are of that community.”

DETAILS

Date: Saturday, August 13

Time: Doors open at 4:30pm (Junior game kicks off at 5pm, before adult game at 7pm)

Tickets available now from HERE.