Kyneton Tigers make history and appoint female president after 150 years

KYNETON Football and Netball Club has appointed Karen O’Sullivan as its president, the first time in its 150-year-history a women has led the club.

Karen O’Sullivan, centre, the first ever female president of Kyneton Football and Netball Club, with David Nolte, Luke Beattie, and Charlotte Lakey. Picture: Rob Leeson.

KYNETON Football and Netball Club has appointed Karen O’Sullivan as its president, the first time in its 150-year-history a women has led the club.

Ms O’Sullivan, a television news reporter, takes over the role from another media identity Rob Waters who will continue as vice-president and football director.

With Kyneton boasting around 300 players across its male and female junior competitions and strong netball participation, Ms O’Sullivan identified continued growth as a priority.

“All my boys came through the club and to me sporting clubs like this are where you make friends, and build a family atmosphere,” she said.

“Sport is hugely important for physical and mental health and connection.

“It’s a place where you should feel equal regardless of your sporting talents and it’s an environment where you learn a lot of life lessons and mix and learn from different people — we have farm people here, town people and those that have come up from the city.”

With a junior sports pavilion and upgrade of its current change rooms to a unisex facility set to go ahead next year, creating an extended and modernised clubrooms to host functions was the main strategic priority.

Emulating the deeds of Peggy O’Neil and bringing a premiership home for the Tigers after a 20-year-drought would be an on-field ambition for the club, she said.

“I’ve met Peggy and she is an inspiration in what she has done.”

Mr Waters told Leader he was happy to have had a hand in leading the club back from “a low ebb.”

In 2013 the football club failed to field a senior team.

“It’s important you don’t move on after a long stint — I’ll stay on as vice-president helping Karen and as football director helping (senior coach) Luke Beattie.”

Twenty-year-old women’s football player Charlotte Lakey said the club had forged a great reputation among female footballers already with players coming from Daylesford and Bendigo to play.

“I didn’t know how to handball to start with and there were seven of us girls — now the girls teams’ fixtures are getting announced at half time of the seniors,” she said.

To celebrate 150 years a foundation wall will be built next year. Past players, officials and supporters can purchase a plaque for $150 to become a permanent part of the monument.

Details: kynetonfnc.com