Boosting support for women’s sport
CQUniversity has reaffirmed its commitment to women’s sport, announcing a three-year extension as naming rights partner of the Rockhampton Cyclones NBL1 team.
The partnership, which began more than seven years ago, aims to not only continue retaining and sourcing talent, but also providing higher education pathways for players.
Rockhampton Basketball General Manager Wade Rebetzke said he was thrilled to have CQUniversity back on board as naming right sponsor.
“To be extending our partnership with CQUniversity means the world to Rockhampton Basketball Inc. and the females participating in our sport at all levels,” Mr Rebetzke said.
“The support CQU provide for Rockhampton Basketball and our Cyclones athletes is second to none and gives our organisation the opportunity to entice quality players to the region to not only improve and work on their games but further their education at the same time,” he said.
“The ability for our organisation to grow female participation in the region is key and our partnership with CQU is a massive part of that process. We are always looking to provide a pathway for our young female athletes and for them to remain in Rockhampton to further studies whilst still playing the game they love.
“Rockhampton Basketball is extremely thankful and honoured to be in partnership with CQUniversity.”
CQUniversity Associate Vice-President of the Rockhampton Region Kim Harrington said it was a great honour to extend the partnership with the Rockhampton Basketball.
“Under this renewed agreement, CQUniversity will proudly take on a more prominent role of the junior teams, serving as a beacon of empowerment for young women as they chase their basketball aspirations,” Ms Harrington said.
“Furthermore, they will have the assurance that their local university stands ready to support them in their pursuit of diverse dreams beyond the basketball court.”
Ms Harrington said both organisation’s missions remained: “to champion gender equality in sports, foster an environment of equal opportunity, celebrate and profile women in sport and cultivate talent within our local community.
“Throughout this alliance, our aim is not only to provide training and education opportunities, but also to empower young women to pursue their aspirations of participating in a semi-professional basketball league while retaining young talent in the regions to study and work.”
The Cyclones have had a successful season and are currently placed second on the ladder, coming off the back of a magnificent season last year where they made the grand finals.
“They are a great group of women and wonderful representatives of our university,” Ms Harrington said.
“Together, we are poised to make a lasting impact and inspire the next generation of female athletes.”
As part of the sponsorship, CQUniversity will provide, among other benefits, four part-time player scholarships.
Current player Lara McSpadden - who is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Secondary Education (Health and Physical Education and Geography) and also plays in the WNBL and has played with the Cyclones for the last few years, is a scholarship recipient and encouraged her fellow players to apply.
“I applied for a CQU scholarship because I’d heard great things about how they’d positively impacted the academic success and general wellbeing of people who had been lucky enough to be granted one and I would absolutely recommend others to apply,” Lara said.
“I can’t imagine having completed my degree without having had the extra support from my lecturers and the benefits of living on campus.”
As a part of the scholarship Lara received housing at CQUniversity’s Rockhampton residence which included cooking, washing, drying and car parking facilities, three meals a day at the dining hall and access to the CQUniversity Gym including exercise classes.
“I also received an invaluable financial contribution towards the cost of my study and was offered additional flexibility in the due dates for assessment tasks due to my sporting commitments.”
