Open day rounds out inaugural Lake Mac Women’s Sports Festival

The door leading into a lifetime of sport and social activity has opened that little bit wider for hundreds of budding female athletes following the inaugural Lake Mac Women’s Sport Festival.

Sunday saw hundreds of people converge on the Charlestown sports precinct to try their hand at more than 20 sports, from tennis and baseball to croquet, American football and karate.

The open day also included a netball ‘masterclass’ with locally bred Aussie rep Sam Poolman, who took dozens of young charges through their paces on the Whitebridge netball courts.

The event rounded out three days of festival activities aimed at celebrating women’s sport, shining a light on the issues for women and girls pursuing their sporting dreams, and providing pathways for young athletes to embrace different sports.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the festival demonstrated the growing role sport played for girls and women in the community.

“Sport has so many benefits, whether it’s in terms of promoting healthy lifestyles, increasing motivation and coordination or building strong and supportive social groups,” she said.

“I’m so proud that Lake Macquarie is championing women’s sport and giving it the recognition it deserves.”

The festival featured talks and appearances by Poolman, Lake Mac cliff-diving world champion Rhiannan Iffland, 2000 Olympics beach volleyball gold medallist Kerri Pottharst and a host of other athletes and sports experts.