Carol McKinstry becomes first female chair of Bendigo Football League

BENDIGO Football League’s first chairwoman hopes to see more women involved in community football.

BENDIGO Football League’s first chairwoman, Dr Carol McKinstry, hopes to see more women involved in senior leadership in community football.

McKinstry was elected to lead the board after Paul Byrne stood down at the expiry of his second two-year term earlier this month.

McKinstry has served three years on the board and is the first female to chair the Bendigo league in its 140-year history.

“I think women have a lot to offer,” she said. “Clubs need to particularly look at the talents and skills women have and not just think they’ll make a good secretary and ... run the tuck shop, but really step into prominent leadership roles.”

McKinstry said she wanted to speed up implementation of the league’s strategic plan, which covered participation rates and club health.

“One of the things we’ve got to do is build our status as a major league,” she said.

“That’s not just about winning inter-league and bragging rights, I think it’s more about having a good standard of competition and ... a league with a good reputation.”

McKinstry is a senior lecturer at Bendigo’s La Trobe University campus and co-ordinates the occupational therapy course.

This year marks 25 years since netball was incorporated into the Bendigo league.