The Matildas will be given the keys to the city at a fan day held in their honour in Brisbane after their World Cup playoff for third against Sweden. Australia’s national team have smashed TV viewing records, sold out stadiums and changed the sport down under forever during their stunning run of success at the tournament and the ceremony on Sunday is likely to be the first of many for skipper Sam Kerr and her teammates.
News of the honour comes hot on the heels of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that women’s sport in Australia will receive a $200million boost after the Matildas gave the country ‘a moment of national inspiration’.
The Matildas will receive the honour at the Riverstage at the City Botanic Gardens from 10.30am. ‘The Keys to the City are awarded to those who embody the ideals of Brisbane, and the tenacity, team spirit and determination of the Matildas is a perfect example of what it means to be not just a Brisbane resident, but an Australian,’ Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
He also announced the appointment of an expert panel of former female athletes to help design the program, including Liz Ellis, Lauren Jackson, Madison de Rozario and Tal Karp.
Mr Albanese said ,‘This is an important announcement, so that women and girls everywhere in Australia can have the facilities and the support that they need to choose a sport that they love and to be able to participate,’.
‘We are going to see an explosion in participation in sport, and that is why this $200million will make a difference.’ The investment comes after Matildas captain Sam Kerr called for more money to help develop grassroots soccer in Australia after the historic Women’s World Cup semi-final appearance.
Applications for program grants are expected to open by early 2024. Sports Minister Anika Wells said providing safer facilities was vital. ‘Too often women and girls are changing in men’s bathrooms, wearing hand me down boys uniforms, playing with men’s equipment on poor fields that boys teams wouldn’t train on,’ she said.
The funding will be available to upgrade facilities and provide equipment, specifically for women and girls, in a bid to get more into sport. The program will be available for all sports but soccer, as the most played game in Australia, will take up significant resourcing.
