Women Getting into Boards Report 2009

As the implementation of quotas is being debated in the community to ensure a gender balance in board composition, it is clear that we have reached the point where stricter measures are being considered to effect change of the size and scope needed. The Women Getting into Boards Report will be released on 22 September 2009 by the Australian Centre for Leadership for Women (CLW). Based on a survey of 317 women, 93% of whom were Australian, the study canvassed women's views on the difficulties they experience getting into boards .

The Report by Dr Diann Rodgers-Healey, Founder of CLW reveals why women want to join boards? Which resources do they access and consider most effective? What can workplaces and the Government do to assist them in their board membership aspirations? 

The findings of this study will apply to women, workplaces, government and most significantly to boards. Board members will gain an insight into the perceptions women have of how boards operate and how boards could benefit by adopting their suggestions.

The full Report will be at www.leadershipforwomen.com.au

SQUASH: Grinham fights back at World Open

Queensland's Rachael Grinham had to come from two games down before beating former champion Vanessa Atkinson in the second round of the World Open squash tournament in Amsterdam on Thursday.
Grinham, fresh from winning the British Open title last week for the fourth time, was outplayed for the first two games as Dutchwoman Atkinson took control.
Grinham changed her tactics and began to assert her authority on the match, ultimately clinching a 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 victory after 50 minutes.
"I've had a lot of matches with Vanessa in the past," she said.
"You never what's going to happen -- when she's on form, she's really good. 
"I felt I played all right, but I was outplayed in the first two games. But coming back from 2/0 down is another big boost for me.
"Perhaps I was just trying too hard in the first two games. I had to go back to basics in the third and just hit a decent length.
"I've obviously peaked (at the British Open) but I do feel I'm capable of winning matches against the top girls."
Rachael's younger sister Natalie, now a Dutch citizen, overcame a stern challenge from New South Wales's Kasey Brown to win 11-4, 11-8, 11-8.
Grinham won the first game comfortably but had to come behind to win the next two as Brown lifted and took the challenge right up to the second seed.
The Grinham sisters remain on course for a semi-final showdown if Rachael downs Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy and Natalie beats Englishwoman Laura Massaro in the quarters.

Second round results (prefix denotes seeding):

1-Nicol David (MAS) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 11-3, 11-5, 11-0
5-Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Engy Kheirallah (EGY) 11-9, 11-9, 11-8
4-Alison Waters (ENG) bt 16-Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 10-12, 11-7, 11-5, 11-13, 11-7
7-Madeline Perry (IRL) bt 13-Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5
6-Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt 15-Samantha Teran (MEX) 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7
3-Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt 11-Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3
8-Laura Massaro (ENG) bt 12-Annie Au (HKG) 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9
2-Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [10] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-8

SQUASH: Urquhart's dream run over but Grinham, Brown power on

Australians Rachael Grinham and Kasey Brown powered into the second round of the World Open squash tournament in Amsterdam but Donna Urquhart's dream run ended when she lost a close match to 12th seed Annie Au of Hong Kong on Thursday.
Urquhart had to win three rounds of qualifying just to make the main draw and looked on course for a big upset when she won the first game and took a lead in the second.
But Au fought back to claim the second and then eased away with the match.
"The end of the second game was crucial and if I'd won that it would have made all the difference," Urquhart, who reached the British Open quarter-finals last week, said.
"I just couldn't get my length - and leave anything short and she's all over you.
"But what I've done over the past two weeks has exceeded my expectations."
Brown survived a marathon against Amsterdam-based Irishwoman Aisling Blake before winning 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-1.
The 23-year-old from Taree in New South Wales said she had trouble adjusting to playing conditions on the glass court.
"I had a little trouble reading where the ball was going at first and I knew I had to keep it tight and not give her opportunities, which I did too much," Brown said.
"It's the first round of the World Open -- there's always a few nerves so I'm just happy to get through in the end."
She now faces the daunting task of taking on Toowoomba-born Dutchwoman Natalie Grinham, who romped to an 11-1, 11-3, 11-5 win over Lauren Briggs of England.
Natalie's big sister Rachael was just as impressive in her 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 over England's Dominique Lloyd-Walter, a player who gave her a great deal of trouble on her way to winning the British Open.
"I knew it was important to get a good start tonight, play my shots and take her forwards, and thankfully it worked," Rachael said.
"I haven't had that many good wins this year, and that's always in the back of your mind, but winning a major tournament last week reminded me that I can actually win matches and gave me confidence going onto court today."
She takes on Holland's Vanessa Atkinson in the second round in a battle of the ex-world number ones.

First round results

1-Nicol David (MAS) bt Orla Noom (NED) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
Camille Serme (FRA) bt 9-Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 11-7
5-Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Delia Arnold (MAS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
Engy Kheirallah (EGY) bt 14-Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-8
4-Alison Waters (ENG) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4
16-Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
7-Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-3, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5
13-Rebecca Chiu (HKG) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 2-11, 11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 11-6
15-Samantha Teran (MEX) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 6-11, 11-0, 11-7, 11-7
6-Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4
11-Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Tania Bailey (ENG) 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5
3-Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-4
12-Annie Au (HKG) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-3
8-Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 11-6, 11-6, 11-8
10-Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-1
2-Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Lauren Briggs (ENG) 11-1, 11-3, 11-5

SOFTBALL: New coach embraces challenge of seeking Queensland's fifth consecutive open national crown

The Queensland Heat open women's softball team will seek the state's fifth consecutive open national crown in 2009/2010 under the guidance of a new coach, Maryanne Walsh of Toowoomba. Walsh coached many of the players as juniors and said her relationship with the group will be strength to draw on in her leadership. Walsh also said she is looking forward to working with a group of players who have varying levels of experience.

Among the 16 players selected in the team following the Open Women's State Championship this month were 2008 Olympic bronze medalists Jodie Bowering, Kylie Cronk and Danielle Stewart, four Australian open representative players, and four rookies who will play their first season in the open state team. "I think the players' mix of experience presents an exciting challenge for me to mold the team into a cohesive unit," Walsh said. "I have no doubt this group of women will be successful. Whether that success will be in winning Queensland's fifth consecutive national crown I can't predict, but they're talented and committed athletes who will be strong competitors," she said. 

The Queensland Heat will get their chance to maintain the state's renowned national competitiveness when the national Gilley's Shield tournament hits off in November. The Gilley's Shield tournament consists of four rounds played over four months in four different states. Queensland is set to host the Round Three contest at Redlands from January 5 to 9 2010.

SQUASH: Grinham claims fourth British Open - Rachael Grinham put her name alongside some of Australia's greatest squash players when she beat Ireland's Madeline Perry in straight games in Manchester on Monday to win her fourth British Open crown. The 32-year-old Grinham, originally from Toowoomba but now based in the UK, took advantage of a tired-looking Perry to win 11-6, 11-5, 12-10. Perry had beaten top seed Nicol David and the third ranked Alison Waters on her way to the final but could not reproduce the heroics of earlier rounds against a faster and more agile opponent. Grinham is now third on the list of Australian winners of the famous event, behind the great Heather McKay with 16 and Michelle Martin (6), and alongside Vicki Cardwell.

But Grinham, who has suffered a few early defeats in major tournaments in recent times, conceded she was lucky to make the final after a first round scare against English qualifier Dominique Lloyd-Walter. "I was only a few points away from losing in the first round, so it hadn't really sunk in that I had reached the final," she said. "Having won it, I don't know how I feel. It just hasn't sunk in." Grinham moved the ball about well and was prepared to play the long rallies with as few errors as possible, to great effect. Perry said she was tired after her wins over David and Waters. "But this has been my best squash of my life this week," she said. "I have moved to another level."

Grinham will be hoping to continue this form at next week's World Open, where she will be joined in the main draw by younger sister and now Dutch representative Natalie. "I hope I can keep up this standard next week," she said. "My sister Natalie will be playing there and she's in good shape and Nicol David is undoubtedly going to bounce back. "For the past couple of days I have been really focussed. "I don't know if that was because I realised that Nicol was already out and I thought - wow - this is here for the taking." Final results: Women: 1-Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt 5-Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-6, 11-5, 12-10

On 13 July 2009, 173 members of state level sport and recreation organisations, local governments, clubs and industry stakeholders attended the Q150 Community Sport Symposium at Parliament House.

The Department of Communities (Sport and Recreation Policy and Programs) and QSport jointly hosted the event to generate ideas about how government can work with industry across a range of issues facing community sport including:

• attracting, training and retaining volunteers in community sport; 
• new approaches to meet the facility needs of community sport; and 
• initiatives for industry and government to reduce the cost of participation in junior sport.

Copies of the presentations from the day are now available from the Department of Communities website at:  

http://www.sportrec.qld.gov.au/CommunityPrograms/Q150CommunitySportSymposiumOutcomes.aspx 

More information about this Symposium is available by phoning the Department of Communities on (07) 3237 1287.

Volunteering Australia's 2009 'National Survey of Volunteering Issues' is Now Live

Volunteering Australia invites all volunteers and not for profit organisations that involve volunteers to participate in the 2009 National Survey of Volunteering Issues. Complete Survey. The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and is open until 30 October. You are able to save your responses and return to the survey if you do not complete it all in one go. The National Survey of Volunteering Issues helps Volunteering Australia understand what issues are emerging in the sector and what factors help or hinder effective volunteering. Volunteering Australia uses this information to formulate policy positions to put to government, and also to target where our research and consultation efforts should be directed.This is the fourth National Survey of Volunteering Issues, which includes questions and themes from previous years' surveys to enable them to compare and track volunteering trends, as well as including some new themes such as employee volunteering, the measurement of volunteer contribution and volunteers' sense of community belonging. The survey has also been refined to make it easier for you to respond.

The 2009 National Survey of Volunteering Issues report will be released on Friday the 4 December in celebration of International Volunteer Day (Saturday 5 December).

Review of Volunteering Australia - Consultation Forum

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has commissioned a review to assess the services provided to Government by Volunteering Australia. People with an interest in volunteering and the role of Volunteering Australia are invited to a consultation forum to be facilitated by the Review Consultant, Douglas Smith from Tempo Strategies. Guidelines for Submissions

When: Monday, 14 September 2009, Time: 10 am 12 noon
Venue: Volunteering Queensland, Level 6, 333 Adelaide Street, Brisbane 4000

All Welcome. To book your attendance, please contact Fral Streit.
Phone: 07 3002 7600
Email: fralyn.streit@volqld.org.au

Billie Jean King King awarded with Presidential Medal of Freedom - first woman in sports category to receive honor

Billie Jean King ground-breaking activist, revolutionary, cultural icon. On the tennis court, she won 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles. Also the founder of the Women's Sports Foundation, King has accolades most could only dream of. Most recently added to her list: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On Aug. 12, 2009, King became the first woman in the sports category of honorees to receive the award, given to "individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."  Read more

Support the trial of live softball video footage this weekend

For the first time this Sunday 6 September softball enthusiasts from Queensland, Australia and world wide will have access to live video footage of our best female players in action. Live footage of the Queensland Cup final will be accessible via the Softball Queensland website www.qld.softball.org.au at 3:00pm this Sunday 6 September.

The Queensland Cup final will be played between the top two ranking District Association teams following the round games at this weekend's Open Women's State Championship. If the Queensland softball community supports this trial and we receive positive feedback on the coverage, Softball Queensland will consider the opportunity to deliver other future events directly to your computer screen in this way. Therefore, we encourage you to log on and check it out! You will be able to view the game for approximately two weeks.

At the championship Olympic players Danielle Stewart and Kylie Cronk will be amongst players vying for selection in the Heat team who in 2009/2010 will compete over four months in four different states in an attempt to claim Queensland's fifth consecutive Australian title.  Two teams from Brisbane, two teams from Redlands and teams from Caboolture, Logan City, Redcliffe, South Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba will compete at the championship to be hosted by Redlands Softball Association, and played from Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September at Hilliards Park, Sturgeon Street, Ormiston. 

To view a draw of the championship go to www.qld.softball.org.au You can also view a demonstration of the live footage to be accessible this weekend on www.qld.softball.org.au . The demonstration footage was captured at the recent 2009 Softball Queensland Masters Tournament. 

SQUASH: AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND OPEN

Lisa Camilleri was the highest ranked Queensland Woman at the recent squash Australian Open, making it to the semi finals. In the New Zealand Open she was knocked out in the first round with fellow Queenslander Rachel Grinham. Natalie Grinham, who was originally from Queensland but now represents the Netherlands after marrying Dutch player Tommy Berden, was the winner of the tournament.

QUEENSLANDERS IN ROME

Congratulations to the following Queenslanders who were selected to go to Rome for the FINA World Championships at the end of July. There were eleven in total and they were Bronte Barratt, Cate Campbell, Sophie Edington, Ellen Fullerton, Melissa Gorman, Samantha Hamill, Meagen Nay, Stephanie Rice, Jessicah Schipper, Emily Seebohm and Tarnee White.

Melissa Gorman won Australia's first Gold Medal of the Championships beating the Olympic Champion in the 5km Open Water race. Jess Schipper finished the meet with a Gold Medal (in world record time) and a Silver Medal in the 200m and 100m butterfly events and teamed up with Emily Seebohm in the medley relay to win Silver. Seebohm also took home a Bronze Medal after finishing third in the 100m backstroke and seventh in the 50m. Stephanie Rice finished second in the 200m Individual Medley and third in the 400m IM and was a part of the Australian Team that finished fifth in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay with Bronte Barratt and Ellen Fullerton while Cate Campbell won Bronze in the 50m Freestyle.

Other Queenslanders to make finals were Sophie Edington (6th 50m Backstroke), Melissa Gorman (7th 1500m Freestyle), Tarnee White (8th 50m Breaststroke) and Samantha Hamill (8th 200m Butterfly).

NOMINATIONS FOR WOMENSPORT QUEENSLAND SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS - Now Open!

The Annual Gala Dinner is on November 20, 2009 - mark the date in your diary now! Nominations are now open with nomination forms available from this website in the next day or so.