Sienna scores for women in sport

And receives scholarship for her leadership

It’s a story about teen spirit: Sienna Perry’s local football club didn’t have a women’s team this year so the 18-year-old Avondale student started one.

A proud Morisset United member, Sienna’s played for the Strikers over the past nine years. But with COVID cancelling all competitions last year, “I was like, ‘We need to play this year.’ I’m missing the game, the exercise, the team spirit, my friends.” So, Sienna set about doing what she could, even though the club lacked the players to re-form a women’s team. Her first signing: a coach, Chris Webber, the former club president. “She said to me, ‘You wouldn’t feel like coaching, would you?’ I ummed and ahed and said, ‘Yeah, alright, but only if you get a team together. And she did.”

Sienna recruited friends from school and work for the all-ages team. All ages is a good description: some players are almost 30 while others are in their mid-teens. “I thought we were going to have a few problems with the age gap,” says Chris, “but Sienna’s done a good job in bringing harmony and that makes my life a lot easier.”

Being back on the pitch is a good feeling. “I feel so much happier,” says Sienna. Chris says his striker likes to excel, “and not just in football. She’s always given 110 per cent. That says a lot about a person. If you’re willing to succeed in sport, you’ll succeed in life.”

Sienna’s demonstrating this through the choices she’s making about where to work and what to do with the money she makes. She applied for a job at a supermarket because she enjoys serving customers. Some of the wages she earns help supplement the family income. “If I can help Dad and Mum in any way, I would.”

Receiving one of the scholarships Avondale offers to students from Morisset High School means Sienna can reduce her hours at work and free up more time for her study. “I don’t have to worry about replacing the shifts I miss when I play football or attend class.” Perhaps it’s no surprise to learn she’s training to be a health and physical education teacher. “I want to be a good role model to my students.”

As a representative of the Morisset ADRA Op Shop, which funds the scholarship, Dr Paul Rankin helped approve Sienna’s application. “She has passion, and she continues to connect with those in her community, so we were delighted to offer the scholarship to her.”

As a resident of Cooranbong, home of our Lake Macquarie campus, attending Avondale made good sense to Sienna. Location wasn’t the only incentive, though. “I’d heard Avondale’s like a big family. And it’s true. The lecturers are willing to help and you meet amazing new friends.”