Exclusive column: Ashleigh Gardner’s national anthem conundrum
As Ashleigh Gardner prepares to ride the momentum laid by Australia’s female sports stars into the Ashes series, the allrounder will face the toughest decision of her blossoming career.
What a great time in Australian sport - particularly in Australian women’s sport!
First, surfer Sally Fitzgibbons cut a monster wave at the Rio Pro to cruise to the world number one ranking, golfer Hannah Green grabs a shock victory at the Women’s PGA Championship in Minnesota, and then Ash Barty becomes world number one.
Talk about making headlines - and we hope to make some of own with the Ashes series next week.
I can’t wait for the multi-format series to start - I’m so ready for the first One Day International on Tuesday on July 2 - but for the first time I’m faced with a decision I’ve never had to make before.
If I make the team, will I sing the national anthem?
And hand on heart, I just don’t know.
I’ve sung our national anthem my whole life and now that I’m older, I have a better understanding how it doesn’t resonate with our indigenous community.
I watched the Origin guys silent protest - NSW’s Josh Addo-Carr and Blake Ferguson, and Maroons Will Chambers, Dane Gagai and Josh Papalii remained tight lipped.
And now I am being asked, and I’m asking myself, what will I do?
People have their own reason about singing and not singing the anthem and I know whatever I decide my teammates will support me.
What I do know is, I don’t just want to take the easy path and join in because I don’t want to be asked awkward questions about it.
It’s an unexpected position to be in ... and I still have so much to learn about my culture.
Mum is a Muruwari woman from northwestern New South Wales.
Her mum, my grandmother, passed away when mum was just five days old and she was raised by non indigenous people.
She didn’t have much to do with her direct family and as a result we have lost some connection but we are learning and I want to learn more about our heritage.
A lot of people forget that we are the world’s oldest civilisation and First Nations people ... and when I run out for Australia, I am so proud to represent my country ... but I am also proud to represent my people.
I never dreamt of being a role model but now I want to be and know that’s what I am. I am so looking forward to the Ashes tour but I also hope it inspires a few girls out there to take up our game.
If I play the one Ashes Test on July 18, I will be only the second indigenous woman to play a Test behind Faith Thomas (nee Coulthard).
She was the first indigenous woman to play for Australia in any sporting code.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet her a couple of times - hers is an amazing story of how she came to play a Test against England in 1958.
But it would be great if there were more of us - Indigenous women playing cricket and representing our great country - and that really would be something to sing proudly about.
CommBank Ashes Tour of England
Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.
SCHEDULE
July 2: First ODI, Grace Road, Leicester
July 4: Second ODI, Grace Road, Leicester
July 7: Third ODI, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton
July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford
July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove
July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol
A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins
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