Fremantle’s first-year AFLW player Joanne Cregg has used the bravery of seven individuals to inspire herself in the lead-up to her first season in the NAB AFL Women’s competition at the AJ Diamond Club Bravery Awards on Thursday at Fremantle headquarters.
The awards have been an annual event on the Fremantle calendar since its inception, and in its 29 years, it’s been considered a source of inspiration for Fremantle’s recently drafted players.
Cregg, who is also a paediatric doctor at Perth Children’s Hospital, is faced with the hardships of sick kids and their families on a daily basis and was one of seven AFL and AFLW players to present bravery awards for seven brave children from the South Metropolitan Health Services who have battled injuries or medical conditions.
The Irish recruit moved to Perth in early 2022 to further her career but mixing her sport and work career to be part of the Club’s annual event was a privilege.
“I think it's really important,” Cregg said.
“It's something we have done at the Club for a long time.
“I think it's something that we all take great pride in, to be able to acknowledge these children when they're at their most vulnerable, and it's incredible.”
Cregg presented a Bravery Award for 13-year-old Jasmine Kavanagh who was admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital for six days in February, where she was diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome.
Nephrotic syndrome is a condition that affects the kidneys and the filtering system within the body and Kavanagh could not stop smiling when presented with her medal from Cregg.
Cregg has had an impressive pre-season after being drafted in the Supplementary Draft in April this year, but despite being in contention for making her AFLW debut next Sunday after a rapid rise in the AFLW landscape, Thursday’s event was a moment of perspective for the midfielder.
“I think it's incredible what we do here,” Cregg said.
“When I see a sick child in hospital, I can't appreciate fully what they're going through.
“When children come into the hospital, they don't want to be there. I don't want them to be there and the parents don't want them to be there.
“I think that (being recognised) is great for them going forward and they can take great pride in that moving forward.
“When we acknowledge, weeks or months afterwards, what they've been through.
“I think it's better for them to be able to recognise in hindsight, that they've gone through something big at the time.
“They don't really understand what it is but when we say to them, ‘you've gone through this and what you've gone through is incredible and your strength and bravery throughout,’ that is something that to be acknowledged.”
The AJ Diamond Club is a Fremantle corporate members club that has supported the Bravery Awards since 2003.
Fremantle will play West Coast next weekend in a round one RAC Derby at Fremantle Oval on Sunday 3 September.
