Volunteer Profiles: Kathryn Cooper:

Quidditch is an entirely volunteer run sport. This week, as nations around the world start and finish celebrating volunteers weeks, we are profiling some of the people from all around the country who help keep quidditch running. Kathryn Cooper is currently the Chairperson of Quidditch NSW (QNSW), but she started her quidditch journey all the way back in 2013 with the University of Sydney Unspeakables. Since then, she's been a manager, vice president, coach, captain, team mum, and inspiration to many. Get a sense of what she does and why she does it below...

What kind of things do you have to do as chairperson of a quidditch governing body?

Since becoming Chairperson of Quidditch New South Wales earlier this year, I have to complete a number of tasks, some of which are ongoing throughout the year. Mostly, I just have to make sure that I am communicating with the Club Representatives of the clubs within New South Wales about what the Board is planning, and overseeing much of what is occurring within the New South Wales community (I am an admin of five different Facebook groups or pages for Quidditch New South Wales). Part of this means working with the other Board Directors, Phillip Vankerkoerle and Geoffrey Talbott, to make sure that the New South Wales Quidditch League (NQL) tournaments are being organised fully, and also coordinating with the other volunteers in the New South Wales community, making sure that the tasks we set for them are being completed, or that they are getting the support they need to organise and coordinate their own plans and ideas for Quidditch New South Wales. Recently, I have also been working with the New South Wales State Shield Team Selectors to coordinate the tryouts, and that they have everything they need to select the team.

What’s the hardest part of your job as chairperson?

I would say that the hardest part of being Chairperson is that there are fewer members of the Quidditch New South Wales Baord this year, and that myself, Phillip, and Geoffrey are all having to take charge of multiple portfolios. For 2019, I am also in charge of the Events portfolio. This is quite a lot of work to do, and with this also being my first year as a Board Director, there is a lot of pressure to make sure that everything is working well.

Are there other ways you volunteer or have volunteered in the past for quidditch?

This is actually quite a long list, as I have been somewhat volunteering in different roles since I joined the University of Sydney Quidditch Club in 2013. For the six years that I was part of that club, I held six different leadership roles. Since moving on and joining Valkyries Quidditch Club this year, I have also taken up leadership roles within the club. On top of holding these leadership roles, I have helped coordinate and run multiple fantasy tournaments throughout the years, mostly the Internal Fantasy tournaments that the University of Sydney Quidditch Club have run in the last few years, of which I have also been the Tournament Director. Last year, I also volunteered as a commentator for the State Shield tournament, which my first official outing as a quidditch commentator. I have continued commentating this year, by being a commentator for NQL matches this year, and helping support Arfy Papadam in running QNSW TV this year.

Why do you volunteer in quidditch?

I have always enjoyed helping organise events and tournaments, even before I joined quidditch. Within the last few years, I have definitely taken more of a role in helping organise bigger events, rather than just smaller club-based events, and I think this mostly comes down to wanting to help further the development of quidditch within New South Wales. I want to be able to help others with the ideas that they have, and what they are able to do to help improve how events and tournaments are being run. A lot of this mostly just comes from wanting to make sure everyone is being looked after, and that they are getting the support they need to do what they can do.

What’s been your best experience volunteering with quidditch?

I don’t really have one specific experience with volunteering that I would say is my best experience, but rather I have just enjoyed helping and supporting others to achieve their goals within quidditch. Whether this just be making sure that tournaments are being organised, or that issues are being handled, I just like making sure that they are able to do the best they can do. That might be how I achieved the persona and nickname of Mum when I was still part of the University of Sydney Quidditch Club, and that this image has evolved and grown within the New South Wales community.

Why should people get more involved in quidditch volunteering?

Being a volunteer within the quidditch community has been really rewarding, and has meant that I’ve been able to meet many people, and get to know their own experiences with quidditch volunteering. We all have different ways that we have volunteered, and it’s really interesting to hear the different ways that we have all helped quidditch growed. If anyone has any idea that they want to see happen within quidditch, then they should definitely give a try, because it could end up being an amazing idea that could really help the growth and development of quidditch. I would encourage anyone in the New South Wales community to do this, as myself and the other Board Directors would hear the ideas that you have, and how you would like to see them happen.

These profiles are being conducted in coordination with Q Consultancy, an international quidditch organisation who this week, is compiling volunteer profiles from all around the world, in time for Volunteers Week in the UK. Read more here.

Interview with Courtney Buckley: Head of the Gender Engagement Committee

In this interview, we talk to Courtney Buckley, previously of USYD Unspeakables and now of Valkyries Quidditch Club, who was recently appointed head of Quidditch Australia's new Gender Engagement and Initiatives Committee, as announced earlier last month. With many plans already in the works for 2019, we talk about what we can expect from the committee this year, and what she's most excited for.

Courtney chasing for the NSW Blue Tongues at State Shield last year | Photo: Taylor Angelo Quidditch Shots

What made you want to take part in the Gender Engagement Committee?

I was keen to join the committee as it provided the opportunity to work with a group of passionate and intelligent people and the ability to pursue more projects for the community.

What are the aims of the committee?

The aim of the QA's Gender Engagement Committee (QAGEC) is to primarily support female players and players with less confidence and sporting experience so they can recognise and be recognised for the value they bring to their team.

What can the community expect from the committee this year?

The committee has created an extensive list of initiatives for this year, with lots of opportunities for members of the community to get involved too.

There are 12 projects in total, including encouraging community discussion around gender, reviewing the MVP award system, and finding ways to showcase female talent. (A full list of projects will be released soon.)

Courtney filming at March NQL Preseason | Photo: Ajantha Abey Quidditch Photography

What project are you most excited to be working on as head of the committee? What are you most excited to see happen?

I'm most excited about creating material for the resource hub, with short video-based content that teaches skills, techniques, and strategies advantageous for small-bodied individuals, from how to hold the ball more easily, to how to overcome a seemingly daunting defence.

The biggest project in the works, however, is probably the development day and fem-powered fantasy tournament weekend, in which every state will host a day-long female-identifying development training event followed by an all-genders fantasy tournament on the second day, where the new skills and strategies can be put into practice in-game.

What advice would you give to any of the women joining the sport this year?

Get in there. If you want the ball, demand it. If you don't want the ball because it's confronting, even more reason to get that ball so you can challenge those fears. One of the best ways to learn is to be in the midst of the action, and the easiest way to do that is with a ball in your hands, your legs charging, and your voice calling out.

Courtney keeping for Valkyries Quidditch Club | Photo: Willem de Gouw Quidditch Photography

What's next on your agenda for the committee?

We're on the look out for more volunteers to help make these initiatives reality, especially in Victoria and Western Australia. If you're keen, if there's an initiative you're excited about, if you have an idea, if seeing others get better gives you warm and fuzzies, then let us know and we'll find a way that fits around other commitments you've got so you can be involved. Or if all you have time for is feedback then that is greatly welcome - we'd love to know what teams want to see from us and if what we're providing is helpful and ways to make it better.

Do you have any favourite female players from Australia or around the world? Inspirations?

Every one of them. Every female who takes initiative, who gets into the midst of the action, who challenges herself - they're the people who inspire me. It's seeing those players with such great potential develop themselves and their confidence that makes me incredibly excited to be part of this community and the upcoming projects.

If you would like to get involved with the gender engagement committee, please get in contact by emailing us at admin@quidditch.org.au.