Our ancestors fought and won huge battles so Indigenous athletes had the same opportunities as everyone else – not so they would still be shackled by the racism of history.
Artistic Swimming Western Australia (ASWA) is extremely honoured and proud to have Mrs Gina Rinehart AO as our Patron. Mrs Rinehart and the support of the Hancock Prospecting Group has played an integral role over the past eight years in nurturing and developing our sport, transforming it into one that has, and continues to develop Western Australia’s artistic swimmers into accomplished women and world class athletes.
Netball WA CEO, Simone Hansen told 6PR Mornings host Liam Bartlett she is disappointed about how the whole situation has played out.“Mining is fundamental to our economy, it’s fundamental to our sports. “I want to be clear, this does not feed down to Netball WA and West Coast Fever.”
OLYMPIC swimming legend Dawn Fraser has thrown her support behind mining magnate Gina Rinehart amid the sponsorship scandal that’s left Netball Australia on the brink of financial disaster. Fraser, a four-time gold medallist and one of the country’s most celebrated athletes, also said she feared that Australia’s richest person would now stop sponsoring sport.
The Australian Olympic Committee has no plans to sever ties with Hancock Prospecting, as other sports which benefit from sponsorship deals with Gina Rinehart’s company also stand their ground amid controversy surrounding the mining giant’s short-lived sponsorship of Netball Australia.Rowing Australia, Volleyball Australia and Swimming Queensland – also beneficiaries of sponsorship deals with Hancock – responded to the issues highlighted by the netball players’ revolt with continued support for Rinehart and her company.
“Bring on summer.”
Swimmers from the Hedland Amateur Swim Club will travel to Karratha for the region’s biggest competition, the Hancock Prospecting Pilbara Championships, on November 25-27.
“Mrs G (Rinehart) has done a hell of a lot for not only swimming, but she’s looked after beach volleyball, she’s looked after women’s rowing and women’s synchronised swimming. ”I mean heavens above – what are these women doing.”
Yet because of historic comments made by her father, Ms Rinehart was discriminated against in this most public and objectifying way possible. That reductionist, reflexive reaction is shameful, and degrades the contribution any of us make in the here and now if we are forever going to be judged by those who came before us. If we start going down that path, where we can’t have sophisticated and nuanced conversations, then we’ll be left with a shell of our society and the financial losses of Netball Australia will look pale in comparison.
Olympic swimmer Dawn Fraser has thrown her support behind Gina Rinehart after its players took issue with her sponsorship deal over offensive comments made by her late father. Fraser hit out at the players, and praised Rinehart for backing minor sports over the years.
