Bridging Divides

Rainbows are traditionally associated with unity and represent a bridge between places or people. No home game this season has had more attendees of diverse cultures and community sectors exchange friendly greetings, share jokes, offer assistance and perform acts of kindness than Swan Districts’ recent Count Me In match. So it was only natural for one to make an appearance, framing Steel Blue Oval with an impressive arc of colour and showcasing the grounds as the masterpiece of community spirit it was last Saturday.

Although celebrating people with disability was the focus of Count Me In (CMI) and the high-stakes battle royale between Swan Districts and East Perth to remain in finals contention the main attraction, the true highlight of the day was the crowd embracing CMI’s core message of acceptance and inclusion and applying the ethos to all citizens. Match attendees raced to open doors for people in wheelchairs, invited seniors to skip the long queues at the coffee van and gave up seats in prime viewing positions to parents who then piled their children upon their laps like Matryoshka dolls to watch the matches.

That’s not to say our disabled community members weren’t well looked after. The Swans’ ensured they, their families, friends and carers were given the VIP treatment with a tented seating area, free soft drinks and complimentary sausage sizzle lunch kindly provided by Atwork Australia.

Meanwhile, upstairs at the Legends Luncheon, the inverse occurred as disabled individuals provided their services for the enjoyment of event attendees. Paralympians Shaun Pianta and Mark le Flohic, alongside visually impaired cyclist, Darren Taylor, inspired the crowd with their tales of triumph, and a few humorous, self-deprecating ones too. Dancer of eight years, Sarah Wardle (24) performed a powerful hip hop routine. Her strong, confident execution as a soloist belied the fact that it was a dance originally choreographed as a group piece. Whilst lunch was served, Integrated Football teams, Coolbinia and High Wycombe battled it out on the turf, impressing the crowd as they played with as much determination and heart as any league player.

Furthering the Swan’s objective of building community and improving social outcomes and wellbeing in the Swans community, sponsor, Rosehill Waters was invited to share statistics and their concern over future overpopulation and urbanisation of the Swan District. In response to problems, Rosehill Waters have designed a family friendly residential development that incorporates public open spaces featuring gardens, picnic areas and walking trails, as well as low-speed streets for child safety with the intention of creating an integrated community where neighbours can really come to know one other.

Fran Berry from club sponsors Bendigo Bank Mundaring, added further opportunity to increase social outcomes for the Swans community. She played a moving video of genuine customer reactions to community groups thanking them and the bank for the funding they have received from Bendigo bank investing profits back into the community that supports the club’s stance on business sustainability. Swan Districts firmly believes that investment into the Swans community is key to the club’s sustainability and motivation behind its community partnership with Bendigo Bank who has pledged to invest customer banking profits of clients who mention Swan Districts FC into the club itself.

It’s quite ironic the club colours are black and white given all the bridges the Swans’ build between community members, groups, local government and businesses. In that case, the rainbow’s appearance at the CMI match was just a well-deserved sign of recognition of the great outcomes achievement by the club is achieving with their community development programs and initiatives.