Celebrating a New Chapter: CLUB UNITES
On Wednesday 4th September, 2024, The Women’s committee of the Centrals Women’s Trinity Beach AFL gathered for a Special General Meeting to close the women’s entity in order to become one club with the Centrals Trinity Beach Australian Rules and Sporting Club Inc.
A long time in the making, this day marked a special milestone in the Centrals history as we can now move forward as one club, one community.
The growth of Centrals Women’s is a testament to the resilience and strength of its players, volunteers, and supporters. This journey, filled with determination and passion, began with a handful of trailblazers who ensured the women’s voice was heard and respected within Centrals. Their dedication helped lay the foundation for what has become a vibrant and thriving community within our club. With 42 registered players, a strong junior pathway feeding into the women’s side, and an incredible mix of both new and seasoned talent joining us each year, we continue to build a family atmosphere that celebrates inclusivity and unity. Our connections with the NTFL (Northern Territory Football League) and ongoing collaborations with the senior side have only further strengthened our standing in the football community.
While this transition means we will dissolve the Womens’ incorporated entity including the positions of President, Treasurer, and Secretary, a Womens’ committee will remain under the Senior club’s structure to manage the day-to-day operations, ensuring our unique identity and needs continue to be represented. Two women’s representatives will also maintain board positions to support the women’s team.
This is not the closing of a chapter but the beginning of an exciting new era. The decision to close the women’s entity will pave the way for even greater success, stronger connections, and a future where Centrals Trinity Beach Football Club, both men and women, stand together as one.
Sophie Cooke
Women’s President
The Centrals Trinity Beach Australian Rules and Sporting Club Inc Senior Board are excited to welcome the Centrals Trinity Beach Women’s Club into our One Club Strategy. It has taken a lot of hard work and determination from the Women’s committee to gain the support and commitment of their players and members as part of this process. As we take this next step by uniting under one banner, the benefits for the women’s team are undeniable. By becoming one club, there will be secure financial support, uniform sponsored apparel across the club, improved football operations with the support of Mark Perkins our Football Operations Manager and a unified club as one team and one family. The Board applauds the professionalism of the Women’s Team and their efforts over the past season under the guidance of Dan Smith and we’re sure the Club Members would agree, we want them to focus on their Football. Go Doggies!!
A Trip Down Memory Lane
By Founder and Life Member Mel Smith
What started out as ‘just a bit of fun’ turned into a passion for the game of AFL, and I wasn’t the only one who had caught leather poisoning. There were heaps of like-minded chicks out there! Pre-2002, we started as a small group of women from all walks of life and different sporting abilities, and most of us had never kicked a footy.
In the beginning, and until we had raised enough funds, we wore borrowed jumpers, used borrowed footballs, cones, water bottles, etc. We set up our own grounds, found our own umpires, and had the best and most wonderful team of volunteers who mowed, line-marked the grounds for us and cheered us on every week. We played in summer, and that was the selling pitch. It provided consistent clientele to the club in the men’s off-season and enabled us to have access to the grounds, rooms, and equipment.
Come 2002-2003, the inaugural AFL Cairns Women’s League was born, and the Bulldog Babes (as we were called back then) were full of enthusiasm and excitement as we thought, “YAY, we’ve finally made it. We are being taken seriously.” We became an incorporated body, sent players to Brisbane to represent FNQ (and they dominated), and won the first Grand Final—albeit by default. Sadly, the team we were to play had to forfeit because another sporting event they were committed to had changed the date to OUR GRAND FINAL day! We had a great afternoon and made the best of the situation by creating a scratch match with anyone who was there and keen for a kick.
Looking back, we were creating history—pushing boundaries, being leaders, gaining acceptance, challenging the norm, and shattering stereotypes. Many milestones have been achieved, lifelong friendships forged, and some truly unforgettable and wonderfully cherished memories made.
While some have moved on, some just got old, some found other life journeys to travel, and some passed away, there is one thing that will never change: our motto—“Once a Babe, always a Babe. Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.” There is nothing better than that bond, that feeling of belonging and camaraderie, knowing someone has your back.
From our humble beginnings 24 years ago to the present day, I cannot express how proud and emotional I am of what has been achieved with the women’s club here at Centrals Trinity Beach. The strong, competitive, thriving club with great culture is more than any of us ‘old Babes’ could have imagined.
Keep doing what you’re doing—you’re onto something good. I should know!
On behalf of all of us female players who wore the red, white, and blue, sang the song, won the mug, busted a finger, sported a black eye, and laughed till we cried… we thank you and congratulate you all.
