Princess Steph to embark on new journey in Tasmania

Life is about to take her and her family to Tasmania, but Princess Steph as she is affectionately known has been a tremendously popular part of the All Abilities Team at Swan Districts and will leave a lasting legacy at the club.

The great thing about Swan Districts having a team in the All Abilities competition is it opens the door to be able to pull on a black-and-white jumper and to run out onto Steel Blue Oval to represent the football club for so many people.

That’s where it has proven one of the highlights of Princess Steph’s life that she has been able play for Swan Districts and for all of the thoughts it brings up with her now as she reflects.

“I made new friends in my team. Some have gone. They don’t play anymore. But everyone is my friends,” Steph said.

“When we finish our game we sing a song. We don’t sing every time. Only when we win. I talk to the other players. Not on my team. The one’s I stand next to. They are now my friends too.

“I can now run better and pass the football too. I try to kick hard. I have got a couple of goals.”

There are so many highlights for Steph when she thinks back on her time playing with Swan Districts as well.

“Having my photo taken and seeing it on the back of the AFL book. Also saw my picture in Melbourne on a big screen. My jumper has my birthdate. It is 18th. My birthdate is 18 December,” she said.

“I like going to training on Thursday night and see all my friends for dinner and everyone else. My friends Josh, Chad, Peter and Wombat spin the wheel and sometimes I win. So does Ben.

“I like kicking goals too.”

The only reason Princess Steph is going to call time on playing with Swan Districts is because her and the family are about to embark on a new adventure by moving to Tasmania.

They are moving to a small town called Maydena, which is 70 minutes west of Hobart and around 10 minutes from the Mt Field National Park with Steph already having a job lined up with a café at the park.

Steph, her mum Christine and step dad Mike are all going to join up to the lawn bowls club in New Norfolk and are going to be living on a properly that is 3 1/2 acres which will feature two small Airbnb cabins which Steph will and her mum will run.

They will also have plenty of animals on the properly including five alpacas with the three of them heading to Tasmania in September to begin the new life with Mike’s retirement opening up the opportunity to begin a new life journey.

“My mummy and Mike and me are going to live in Tasmania. I will have five alpacas and chickens,” Steph said.

“I want a cow and sheep. My puppies are going too. Their names are Prince William and Jack Malcolm Sparrow. My mum said I can work at a cafe there. And we will go bowling too. I will miss all my friends.”

Steph’s mum, Christine, might have come about the All Abilities team somewhat through chance, but Swan Districts was somewhere that had a connection through husband Mike, and it all just came together nicely.

“Mike has always been a keen supporter of football and was happy to become involved in other facets as a parent. For the last two seasons, he has been on the field helping the players,” Christine said.

“We found it exciting and also challenging when Steph began playing for Swan Districts. We came across the inaugural team through Sassy, a group Steph attended on a regular basis.

“Mike also has long standing ties with Swan Districts as his workplace, The Vines Resort, has supported and sponsored other teams within the club. When Stephanie began with Swan Districts, Mike organised for The Vines Resort to be a sponsor.”

Not only has Christine noticed how much good being part of the All Abilities team at Swan Districts has been for Steph, but for all the other members of the team as well.

“I believe having the ability to engage in a sport that requires agility, critical thinking, hand/eye coordination and the ability to communicate with fellow team members can only be a positive. AFL gives all of that and more,” Christine said.

“Watching where the team has come over the last four seasons (where has that time gone?) and especially the individual players, has been remarkable.

“Every player is different and yet you can see how the many facets of the game has helped with various areas for all players.

“For example, Steph had good hand/eye coordination for small things like drawing, but when challenged with catching an odd shaped ball and then learning to pass that ball, she struggled. Now Steph can pass the ball quite quickly when she catches it.

“I have noticed others whose skills have increased and now they have strengths in areas no-one thought. Steph’s strengths now include a more positive attitude in training and playing with others as a team.

“Something she struggled with at the beginning as most of her activities had been solo or small groups.”

It takes the support from so many people to allow each individual to be able to be part of an All Abilities team, and Christine will forever be grateful for Steph’s career Caitlin for all her help in making it possible.

“We have been extremely fortunate to have wonderful support too with Stephanie’s carer Caitlin, who would help by driving Steph to training and the games and then became the team strapper, helping the players strap their ankles etc,” she said.

“Caitlin’s boyfriend, Kaiden, then joined as he had become Ben’s support worker. Kaiden had a bit of football knowledge and began helping with training on and off the field. It has become a bit of a family affair.”

What stands out above everything else for Christine is how fully and whole heartedly her daughter was embraced by the entire Swan Districts Football Club and for all the support that was provided along the way.

“We are so proud to see the positive attitude from Stephanie towards being in the team. She knows she is part of Swan Districts Football Club just by wearing the uniform, which she proudly wears,” Christine said.

“Her awareness of AFL over the past four years has gone from zero to now watching games on TV and knowing the team names and some of the AFL players.

“We also bought season tickets to watch Fremantle at Optus which gave Stephanie a wonderful perspective of the game live. Then watching Stephanie play at Optus was one of our highlights.

“We are forever grateful to Swan Districts for implementing the All Abilities team into the WAFL and the fabulous people behind the scenes helping every week.

“It is also wonderful to see that our All Abilities team has won the hearts of many Swan Districts members who now attend our home games. They are a fabulous team with great characters who entertain us every week.”