From championing opportunities for women and girls in sport to raising awareness of mental health and social inclusion, Sports Gold Coast has been out and about supporting initiatives that demonstrate the power of sport to make a meaningful difference in our community.
It has been another inspiring week across the Gold Coast sporting landscape, with Sports Gold Coast representatives attending two community initiatives focused on connection, participation and wellbeing.
From the Her Sport & Health Collective’s Sunset Swings event to the RALLY4EVER fundraiser at KDV Sport, both occasions highlighted the important role sport plays beyond competition, bringing people together, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for everyone to feel included.
Championing Women in Sport at Sunset Swings
Sports Gold Coast Director Joanne Bergamin joined approximately 30 women from across sport, health, wellness, research and business for the Her Sport & Health Collective’s Sunset Swings event at The Golf School, Palm Meadows.
The afternoon brought together a diverse network of women for an opportunity to connect, share ideas and try their hand at golf, with PGA Professionals Lee Harrington and Stacey Edwards providing expert coaching and encouragement.
Beyond the fairways, the event sparked valuable conversations around strengthening pathways and creating greater opportunities for women and girls to participate, perform and thrive in sport, health and movement.
The newly established Her Sport & Health Collective Gold Coast represents an exciting collaboration between individuals and organisations committed to driving positive change for women and girls across the region.
With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, initiatives like these play an important role in building stronger networks, encouraging participation and ensuring the benefits of sport extend throughout the community.
Sports Gold Coast extends its congratulations to Sam Hughes and the City of Gold Coast and Venues Gold Coast teams for bringing together such an engaging initiative and creating a platform for meaningful collaboration.
Rallying Together for Mental Health at RALLY4EVER
The power of sport to connect communities was also on full display at KDV Sport on Friday, where Sports Gold Coast Directors Matt Krog and Joanne Bergamin joined the RALLY4EVER fundraiser in support of mental health awareness, inclusion and community wellbeing.
The event brought together sporting personalities, community members and supporters for a day of pickleball, tennis and connection, with Australian tennis legend Pat Rafter among those taking to the courts.
Representing Sports Gold Coast alongside our Directors were Matt Burgess, Akaisha Porter, Rachelle Ballard-Clayton and Renee Fry, with Gold Coast Titans athlete Georgia Grey also joining the team.
There was plenty of friendly competition throughout the day, with the Sports Gold Coast team even managing to take a few points off Pat Rafter!
Founded by former professional tennis player Louise Pleming, RALLY4EVER is dedicated to addressing loneliness, social isolation and mental health challenges through the power of sport.
Funds raised through the event support RALLY4EVER’s free community pickleball and tennis programs, providing welcoming and accessible opportunities for people to connect, stay active and experience the benefits of participation.
Sports Gold Coast extends its congratulations to Louise Pleming and thanks Nicole Kennear, waterdrop, Pat Rafter, the participating athletes, volunteers and everyone who contributed to making the event a success.
At Sports Gold Coast, we recognise that the impact of sport reaches far beyond the field of play. Sport has the power to connect communities, break down barriers and create meaningful opportunities for people to feel supported, included and valued.
As we recognise Mental Health Month, initiatives like RALLY4EVER serve as an important reminder that some of sport’s greatest achievements aren’t measured in medals or trophies, but in the connections we build and the lives we positively impact.
While the week’s events focused on different areas of community sport, they shared a common purpose: creating opportunities for people to connect, participate and thrive.
Whether it’s empowering women and girls to pursue opportunities in sport or using tennis and pickleball to address social isolation and support mental wellbeing, both initiatives demonstrate the significant social impact of a strong and connected sporting community.
For Sports Gold Coast, these initiatives reinforce the importance of collaboration between sporting organisations, government, business and community leaders to ensure sport remains accessible, inclusive and a positive force across the region.
As the Gold Coast looks towards Brisbane 2032 and beyond, our sporting legacy must extend beyond world-class venues and elite performances. It must also be reflected in the opportunities we create, the barriers we remove and the lasting benefits sport delivers to our community.
Sports Gold Coast is proud to stand alongside the individuals and organisations championing these outcomes and remains committed to connecting, supporting and strengthening our city’s sporting community.
We look forward to continuing to get around the grounds and sharing the people, partnerships and initiatives shaping the future of sport on the Gold Coast.
