#3 "Hey Frank, we talked about this remember?"

Cliché’s exist for a reason, and it turns out an image does indeed speak a thousand words. Our new co-host WITSUP.com's Stef Hanson delves into a particular image that surfaced from the cycling world this week, and deciphers all 1000 words. This week we were joined by inaugural Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, rowing ace and cycling supremo turned SBS commentator Dr Bridie O'Donnell, Dr Alison Skene, creator of the Topbike Tours Hanging Rock Handicap women's only race and Senior producer and theatre director Annette Downs.

We revisit the top down, bottom up plan going from elite to grassroots and acknowledge the privilege and power of not having to yell to be heard. Our panel discusses the nuances of the racing aspect of bike racing. We talk the broader facets of what we value, and how breaking barriers to welcome opportunity is the way to go.

Find out which of our guests gave up on cycling after a brush with the law and stay tuned to see if we can get her back on the bike!

All this and oh so much more zesty conversation, as we tackle gender bias in sport.

Our guests this week were:

Dr Bridie O'Donnell
Dr Bridie O’Donnell is a medical doctor, national champion rower, Ironman triathlete, world record holder and cyclist. She won the National Time Trial title in cycling, and placed on the podium in 12 Australian and Oceania Championships. Bridie as raced in the Australian National Team, and then Professional Italian teams in Europe and the United States, representing Australia at three World Championships.

She managed and raced for Rush Women’s Team, a National Road Series cycling team in Australia, coordinating commercial sponsors, team owners, riders and race organisers to successes and race wins over four seasons. She became the first Australian woman to attempt the UCI World Hour record in 15 years where she set a new world record of 46.882km.

Bridie was appointed the inaugural Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation by the Victorian Government and now the
Director of Experience Economy Recovery at Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.

She currently commentates cycling for SBS and appeared on the 2020 Tour de France team.

Dr Alison Skene
Alison has a long standing passion to get more women into cycle racing, she's a medical professional (anatomical pathologist at Austin Health) with a challenging job. Alison has been racing at club level for a number of years, in both the CA (Hawthorn CC, Northern Combine) and veterans scenes. She's been involved in club committees but more recently moved into race organisation.

Alison pioneered the Hanging Rock Handicap women's only 60km bike race, the biggest and best run women's road race in Australia, ever. I Alison understands the barriers to women's participation in cycle racing at the grassroots level, and created the event to showcase what the ideal event looks like. She was awarded Cycling Victoria Best Women's Development Initiative 2019.

Alison believes that spreading awareness is important, but would rather do something than complain about it.

Annette Downs
Annette's accomplished career has seen her at the forefront of the performing arts in Tasmania for over 20 years. She is a well-respected leader, having played a principal role in companies such as Terrapin Puppet Theatre and Is Theatre Ltd. She's currently Senior Producer at Tasmania Performs, where she plays a crucial role in the leadership, development and sustainability of the Tasmanian performing arts sector.
Her professional and governance experience bridges the tertiary, private, government and creative sectors and she has consulted and advised to national, state and local governments

Annette is an accomplished director and choreographer, having collaborated with La Boite, QTC, Blue Cow, Tas Theatre Co and Terrapin Puppet Theatre. She won Best Director at the 2016 Tasmanian Theatre Awards.

Annette is a Churchill Fellow, a Telstra Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and in 2017 was a Tasmanian Australian of the year finalist.

Links:

Podium ImageHanging Rock Handicap

Co-hosted by Stef Hanson, Andy Hollands and Craig Lane-Irons.

Website:
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