Tallon Smith

Not just a prospective voice for Farrer, Michelle Milthorpe has been a Battler For Bush Footy for a long time.

Contesting one of the most footy-mad seats in the state, the Independent candidate for Farrer is seeking to represent an area that includes towns in the Group 20, Group 9, Proten Community Cup and Goulburn Murray competitions.

In an interview with Battlers For Bush Footy this week, Milthorpe details her own story and involvement with the game, and how her passion for community sport forms a key part of her campaign.

As part of a footballing family, Milthorpe said that her connection with the game began when she was young, growing up in the rugby league heartland of Cootamundra.

“I had three girls and a boy in my family so it wasn’t until my brother started playing football that we actually had a connection with the football [club], but my mum was always a massive  Canterbury Bulldogs fan, so we kind of thought that the Cootamundra Bulldogs were part of that,” she said.  

“So as kids, I still remember mum not allowing us to be cheerleaders at one of the grand finals. 

“I think it might have been against Temora at Young. 

“We weren’t allowed to be cheerleaders because she said we would be better playing than actually dancing on the sidelines.

“So yeah, with Cootamundra, I used to obviously go to games and things like that.”

However, in addition to her connection to the Bulldogs, Milthorpe also said that there is a strong family link to the Junee Diesels.

“My grandfather absolutely loved football and rugby league, and he played for Cootamundra as a young person as well,” she said.

“And then dad’s family obviously were connected with the Diesels in Junee.”

“With the Sweeneys all being players over there, we sort of grew up with rugby league.”

After moving to her current home town of Jindera to work as a teacher in nearby Albury, Milthorpe kept her connection with the Cootamundra club of her youth, whilst also forging new connections at the Albury Thunder club.

“Through some Cootamundra locals, we sort of had a little bit of a connection,” she said.

“We watched a few games, but always watched when Cootamundra came down to play, so it was pretty sad for us when Coota weren’t [part of] the competition anymore in Group 9.

“It was really exciting to see that they’ve been welcomed back in the competition this year.”

Another major part of the Farrer electorate in rugby league terms is the Group 20 competition, with Milthorpe having less of a personal connection to that league, but still strong family links.

“I can’t say that I actively supported it, [but I] did have one of my best friends growing up, her husband ended up coaching over there for a bit, Scott Piffero,” she said.

“[Former Leeton and Albury winger] Ty Fletcher is my brother-in-law’s cousin, so they’re both kind of related to the Harts.  

“So you know it just shows you how sort of integrated all of these places are.”

With the game facing more challenges than ever before, Milthorpe said that after seeing her hometown club face a difficult period over the past six years, she is determined to support clubs in Group 9, Group 20, the Goulburn Murray Premiership and the Proten Community Cup across her vast electorate.

“[From personal experience] it was really sad for Cootamundra when they weren’t in Group 9 anymore,” she said.

“I just remember from everyone, [there] was just this big collective, oh my gosh they’re not in Group 9, what’s going on? 

“I think having grown up in regional Australia, you understand the value of community and that these sporting clubs aren’t just about playing sport and winning and losing, it’s actually about  communities, connecting and volunteering and learning good life skills and soft skills that exist outside of that sporting environment.”

With clubs looking to grow and accommodate more participants than ever before, Milthorpe said that she will listen to clubs on how she can best help them accommodate that growth.

“We’ve seen clubs come a really long way, it’s so fabulous to see clubs embracing women as part of the competition, so it’s super important that we make sure that there’s facilities for women to keep their involvement sustainable into the future,” she said.

“We want young people to be doing things, and having a level of fitness. 

“So even if it isn’t that they’re playing on the team, they’re refereeing, they’re helping manage, or they’re running water or doing something like that to be part of that atmosphere, part of the community.

“Sporting clubs have a great place in regional communities.”

Michelle Milthorpe will contest the electorate of Farrer at the Federal Election on May 3, amongst a field of nine candidates.

This story is part of an opportunity created by Battlers For Bush Footy for election candidates to share their own stories relating to rugby league and detail how they would assist the game if elected, with an invitation extended to all candidates across regional NSW, particularly those in Southern NSW.

Battlers For Bush Footy does not explicitly endorse any candidates as part of its coverage.