Girls give it their best

By Gavin Staindl
CASEY Fields was awash in pink on Saturday as girls from Fountain Gate and Hampton Park turned to football to generate breast cancer awareness.
The Fountain Gate and Hampton Park Youth Girls football sides played off for the inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness cup, with both clubs sporting pink outfits and armbands in memory of those who have fallen to the disease.
After a convincing 40-point win, Fountain Gate was presented with the cup by Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley, who had a unique reason to be attending.
Mrs Graley is a passionate footy fan, who also successfully battled cancer three years ago and said watching the two teams on Saturday was special.
“It gives me so much joy seeing young girls playing footy and playing for such a great cause,” Mrs Graley said.
“It was a really special day. Everyone had gone to so much effort, there were pink balloons, pink streamers and pink armbands, some girls even had pink nail polish on.
“There are a few girls out there who I know who have had close relatives or friends affected by it (breast cancer), so they know it’s a really good cause to work towards.
“It was a really heart-warming and uplifting day.”
Mrs Graley said football, at any level, had become a fantastic form of expression and awareness.
“What is interesting about the ‘movement’ is that women everywhere have joined in a sort of sisterhood, working and striving for better outcomes.
“Football at all levels is a vehicle for passing on that message,” she added.