Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation

Marching Forward for International Women’s Day at Cranbrook 

This morning Cranbrook School welcomed Isabella Nasser, Captain of the Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens to speak to our community. Our current students, especially our rugby players, incoming Year 11s, parents, staff, and some of our School Council members came together as a community to celebrate International Women’s Day and hear Bella speak about women in sport, and her own experiences. 

Bella spoke the importance of athletes and advocates in supporting and investing in women’s sport. She encouraged students to try every sport, as she certainly did before she became a professional rugby player. At 22, Bella has represented Australia in numerous 7s competitions as well as the Paris Olympics last year. As Australian Captain, Bella spoke about leading by example through diligence, responsibility, punctuality, and empathy. 

Bella discussed the importance of keeping women in sport and encouraging girls to play sport. Her education and sporting story is a coeducational one, as she attended a coeducational school from Year 8. She spoke about how her goal is to always be the best player she can be, and the best teammate she can be. 

After the breakfast, Bella spoke with some of our Opens Rugby players where they grilled her with questions not about being a woman in sport, but about being an elite rugby player. The questions ranged from managing setbacks and burnout, to her mental health and nutrition tips. Bella spoke about the different skills leaders have in a team and how to build a team that is a safe and happy place for everyone in the squad. 

When Bella was asked how it is playing in a male dominated sport, she explained how a lot of the trophies in the Rugby Australia Headquarters in Moore Park are for the women’s teams, and that they have the support of the entire sport behind them. 

We are making great strides in women in sport, and as Charlotte Caslick was a mentor for Bella from a young age, I am sure she will be that mentor for many of the young men and women who heard her speak today. 

Throughout the week we have also been holding IWD activities in SWP focused around our coeducation transition.

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation