The Star: May 23, 2019

The Star Thursday May 23 2019
20
OUR PEOPLE
‘It’s not about gender; it’s about contribution and passion’
•From page 19
We share ideas on how to
keep growing the game and
encouraging participation. We
had Bill Osborne, who is president
of New Zealand rugby, down over
the weekend and I caught up with
him. I got invited along to the
Black Ferns capping that they had
here on Saturday night. Seventeen
more Black Ferns were capped;
quite a few were Canterbury girls.
It was a great pleasure to see them
getting their caps and celebrating
with them.
What do you hope to change
in this role?
I think this appointment is
a symbol of change, to change
people’s perception of Canterbury
rugby. It’s not as conservative,
traditional or male-dominated as
people might imagine. It’s just a
reflection that women have always
contributed and this is a great way
of recognising that it is a game
that is inclusive. It’s not about
gender; it’s about contribution and
passion.
Who has inspired you to get
to this point?
I have been hugely influenced
by the people at the university
club. Initially, that was Laurie
O’Reilly, he was one of my first
coaches. He was a huge supporter
of diversity, inclusively and
encouragement. It was his vision
that continued to build what we
as a club and then as a province
and nationally, have been able to
do in the women’s space. He was
a great technical coach. Without
him, women’s rugby wouldn’t
be in the position it is today. I
wouldn’t be the first president
of Canterbury Rugby if I hadn’t
met him and been encouraged by
him. Of course there are others
too. Ivan Bolton was the president
at the university club when I
started there in the mid-80s. He’s
in his late 80s now but is still
contributing. He recently got a
lifetime achievement award from
Sport Canterbury and from the
university’s Blues committee.
Its people like them that always
just encourage and support you
to do things and haven’t put
any barriers in the way. They
challenged me to go beyond the
normal pathway. Laurie took us
on a tour as the University girls
(team) to the United States and
Europe in 1988. We played over
seven weeks and every second
or third day we played a game.
The friendship and memories we
created, it’s those sorts of bonds
that are special in rugby. That’s
why I’d like others to have their
own journey, but also make those
friendships which are really
important.
Who’s your favourite All
Black of all time?
For me, Dan Carter and Richie
FAMOUS
FACES: Julie
Patterson
among the
Pillars of Pride
at Rugby Park.
PHOTO:
MARTIN
HUNTER
McCaw are pretty special. There is
that Southbridge connection with
Dan, I remember him as a kid
growing up. I had a friend that use
to tell people babysat him. I use to
say ‘you know that’s not true’ and
she would say ‘oh but you could
have.’ Yes, if his parents had of
asked me I could have. I’m sure I
babysat some of his classmates. I
knew as a child he had a goalpost,
his dad had made it for him and
he spent a lot of time kicking the
ball around. I remember seeing
him kicking a ball around but no
one predicted as a five or six-yearold
that he would do what he’s
managed to achieve.
What do you like to do outside
of rugby?
I work in HR. I am a people
business partner, HR manager,
for an engineering consultancy.
Outside of rugby I enjoy
photography, movies, art, music.
I enjoy people and landscape
photography, going down to the
ice, it’s not very difficult to take a
good photo in Antarctica.
Tell me about your family –
are you married/have kids?
No, I have no husband and
no children, I like to call myself
unclaimed treasure. I have three
older sisters, they all have kids
who are all sort of grown up now.
We have a big extended family,
mum was from a family of 12 and
dad from six. It was definitely
busy.
What will Canterbury rugby
look like in 10 years? Will we
have a new stadium?
I hope we continue to grow the
game and that participation levels
just grow year on year, whether
its men’s and women’s game. I
want people to be engaging if
they aren’t not playing, referees,
managing, coaching, helping
run the competitions and clubs.
Everyone plays a part. I will be
really disappointed if we don’t
have a stadium in 10 years. We
desperately need one, with a roof,
in order to secure internationals,
not just for rugby but as a multisport
facility. We really need that
to continue the re-build.
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