An event featuring some of Australia’s more prominent sporting achievers will descend on Shepparton in a matter of days.
Greater Shepparton City Council announced that the Shepparton Sports City function room would serve as the venue for a discussion called Beyond the Game on Sunday, December 15.
The panel, set to run from 11am to 2pm as a free to attend event, features some of the country’s more prominent athletic achievers across a wide range of fields, as well as a recovery expert.
Promoted by the council’s Resilience and Recovery arm, the event will feature the likes of AFL Women’s marquee and cross-code athlete Tayla Harris.
Harris will be joined by Echuca-born Paralympian swimmer Col Pearse, who has medals at the 2020 and 2024 Games to his name as well as a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold — and is by no means a stranger to local appearances.
Fellow Paralympian standout Vanessa Low, a two-time defending gold medallist in the long jump T63, will speak as well, while the three athletes are joined by clinical psychologist David Younger, who has worked as a community and government consultant in disaster recovery.
As you would likely expect given the personnel involved, the discussion will largely take in sporting issues, with inclusion and community’s role in the field among the top talking points of the day.
Younger’s place on the panel will help illustrate sport’s connection to his specialised community engagement and recovery skills.
Greater Shepparton City Council director community Louise Mitchell spruiked the discussion as one to bridge the gap between sport and the wider society around it.
“Sport is more than just competition; it is a platform for connection and growth, especially during times of adversity,” Mitchell said.
“This event will highlight the profound ways sport and the community can come together to overcome challenges.
“This is a great chance to hear from inspiring athletes and experts about the transformative power of sport in building resilience and fostering recovery.”