U3A at NFSA: What a goal!
Australian Women in Sport and Physical Activities 1896-1956
Fri
30
Fri 30 Aug 10:00 AM
Theatrette
General Admission
All Ages
150 MinsPresented by Marilyn Dooley
This presentation offers an historical perspective on Australian women in sport and physical activities, from 1896 to 1956.
In 2023, the Matildas achieved a much-deserved national focus on women in sport and the Australian identity. Now, in an Olympic year, what better time to adopt an historical perspective and consider the track taken by Australian girls and women in the decades from 1896, when our earliest film of sporting events is dated, to the extraordinary achievements of our women's team at the Melbourne Olympics of 1956.
There is much to consider: costume as an inhibiter to women’s physical activities, laws against mixed bathing, and a distinct lack of acknowledgment of women’s sporting prowess.
There is surviving film footage of Annette Kellerman, a pioneer advocate for physical fitness. There are galloping girls of the bush. There are newsreels of women rowers and footballers and athletes, hampered by sexist commentary. However, there are also images that reveal the ongoing endeavours and achievements of our women in sport and physical activities, earning them a much-deserved place in Australia’s social history.
This session will be accompanied by screening of selected images that illustrate and celebrate the topic.
Part of a series of free U3A events exploring audiovisual history, presented by NFSA Owls at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (formerly NFSA Alumni). Session includes a tea break.
This presentation offers an historical perspective on Australian women in sport and physical activities, from 1896 to 1956.
In 2023, the Matildas achieved a much-deserved national focus on women in sport and the Australian identity. Now, in an Olympic year, what better time to adopt an historical perspective and consider the track taken by Australian girls and women in the decades from 1896, when our earliest film of sporting events is dated, to the extraordinary achievements of our women's team at the Melbourne Olympics of 1956.
There is much to consider: costume as an inhibiter to women’s physical activities, laws against mixed bathing, and a distinct lack of acknowledgment of women’s sporting prowess.
There is surviving film footage of Annette Kellerman, a pioneer advocate for physical fitness. There are galloping girls of the bush. There are newsreels of women rowers and footballers and athletes, hampered by sexist commentary. However, there are also images that reveal the ongoing endeavours and achievements of our women in sport and physical activities, earning them a much-deserved place in Australia’s social history.
This session will be accompanied by screening of selected images that illustrate and celebrate the topic.
Part of a series of free U3A events exploring audiovisual history, presented by NFSA Owls at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (formerly NFSA Alumni). Session includes a tea break.