Ella’s OAM for leading equality in sport

FOUNDER, president and coach of Bass Coast Breakers Women’s Football Club, Ella Angarane has been recognised for her contribution to achieving equality in grassroots football.

Ella was excited, honoured, and humbled to be awarded an OAM by her community; not working for recognition but driven by passion, Ella saw the gap in equality as a young girl who grew up wanting to be on the football field.

“I’ve been involved in football all my life, mum and dad were both a part of the Dalyston Football Netball Club, with dad coaching and mum volunteering behind the scenes and I always wanted to play but the opportunity wasn’t there.

“In 2015 when there was a growth in girls footy, I was approached and started coaching the youth girls – aged 13 to 18 years and it was the first club for South Gippsland and Bass Coast.”

At this stage a women’s side wasn’t up and running, and Ella still had the drive to play so she travelled to Seaford to be a part of their women’s team and competed in Melbourne but there was still that spark to play local, and by 2017, Ella took it upon herself to start the Bass Coast Breakers.

“I don’t strive for recognition, so this award is humbling, I just wanted to be a representative for the whole of the shire, to start an open age team. We now provide for a diverse demographic, I’m proud of the safe and inclusive space, and this means our passionate players have local opportunity.”

The open age women’s invites girls as young as 16 years, with the opportunity to join if they have confidence in their game. The youth team is still underway and once these girls develop their skill and certainty in the game they can move over to the women’s side.

“We’ve developed an environment and positive culture where women are confident in competing and we’ve given them the opportunity to do so,” said Ella.

Not only did Ella drive the creation of the club, but she continues to provide an inclusive space for women to stand up and lead, whether it be to put their hand up for the committee, or to take the next step and be part of the coaching team.

The Bass Coast Breakers manage under a shared coaching model that invites women with the opportunity to become involved – to develop the required skill to complete a level two coaching accreditation and take the next step towards equality in a male dominated sport.

“It’s the community that is right behind this group, I was just the driver to get it off the ground.”

With so many women involved six years on, the team is sustainable and consistent – welcoming girls that have played 50 games and ‘that’s a huge achievement for women’s football at a local level.’

In 2018, Ella achieved a premiership and the growth in the game continues to thrive.

“Women still have a fair way to go in a male dominated space, but the future would ideally be for more girls to be coaching, playing, and feeling the confidence to take on those leadership roles.

“Thank you to the community for getting behind the game, so we can lead the way to achieve equality in sport.”