Fremantle and Programmed have completed another successful roadshow in the Pilbara. This time spending three days in Newman in July to showcase the opportunities available to young women in non-traditional fields.
AFLW players Madi Scanlon, Dana East and Jessica Low attended the roadshow alongside NGA Coach Roger Hayden and Regional Engagement Manager Graham Mills.
It was Fremantle and Programmed’s second roadshow of the year to the region after visiting Karratha in May.
One purpose of the roadshow was to highlight the career opportunities that exist in fields that have traditionally been dominated by men – an area that both Fremantle and Programmed have worked hard on bringing balance to.
There were also football skills clinics for both girls and boys, as well as Roger Hayden telling the Walyalup creation story behind the Club changing its name to Walyalup during Sir Doug Nichols Round.
The team visited Newman Senior High School, Newman Primary School and South Newman Primary School in addition to the clinics held at Emu Oval.
Programmed Regional Manager Ayrton Bland spoke about the importance Programmed places on providing equal opportunities for all.
“It's been a great opportunity to support Fremantle in their education and training sessions that they've been running with the local community,” Bland said.
“It's been really great to be able to engage with the local community, the high schools, play some footy with the little kids and kick the ball around.
“At Programmed, our biggest achievement is our people. We saw the AFLW players come up here and speak to the kids and explain to them where they come from and where they are now.
“It's really good for the kids to see that commitment and dedication to what you're doing can lead places for them in the future.
“More than anything, it's just been a really great experience to see the happiness that it brings to the children while they're here and the opportunity to provide a little bit of education while we’re at it.”
Low said she found it important to share some of the skills and knowledge that she has picked up since she was drafted to Fremantle in 2022.
“We talked them through what mental health is, what mental fitness strategies they can use and what we as players and staff at Freo have learned,” Low said.
“Then we came to Emu Oval and ran a footy skills session. We took all the under 12s from around the community, ran through some drills and had a kick of the footy with them in the afternoon.
“To come here, see the different landscape and meet all the different people from different backgrounds, it's a really great opportunity for players and staff at Freo.”
