OLYMPIC swimming legend Dawn Fraser has thrown her support behind mining magnate Gina Rinehart amid the sponsorship scandal that’s left Netball Australia on the brink of financial disaster. Fraser, a four-time gold medallist and one of the country’s most celebrated athletes, also said she feared that Australia’s richest person would now stop sponsoring sport.
The Australian Olympic Committee has no plans to sever ties with Hancock Prospecting, as other sports which benefit from sponsorship deals with Gina Rinehart’s company also stand their ground amid controversy surrounding the mining giant’s short-lived sponsorship of Netball Australia.Rowing Australia, Volleyball Australia and Swimming Queensland – also beneficiaries of sponsorship deals with Hancock – responded to the issues highlighted by the netball players’ revolt with continued support for Rinehart and her company.
“Bring on summer.”
Swimmers from the Hedland Amateur Swim Club will travel to Karratha for the region’s biggest competition, the Hancock Prospecting Pilbara Championships, on November 25-27.
“Mrs G (Rinehart) has done a hell of a lot for not only swimming, but she’s looked after beach volleyball, she’s looked after women’s rowing and women’s synchronised swimming. ”I mean heavens above – what are these women doing.”
Yet because of historic comments made by her father, Ms Rinehart was discriminated against in this most public and objectifying way possible. That reductionist, reflexive reaction is shameful, and degrades the contribution any of us make in the here and now if we are forever going to be judged by those who came before us. If we start going down that path, where we can’t have sophisticated and nuanced conversations, then we’ll be left with a shell of our society and the financial losses of Netball Australia will look pale in comparison.
Olympic swimmer Dawn Fraser has thrown her support behind Gina Rinehart after its players took issue with her sponsorship deal over offensive comments made by her late father. Fraser hit out at the players, and praised Rinehart for backing minor sports over the years.
Western Australia should be incredibly proud of Telethon – it’s perhaps the thing that makes WA truly the greatest place to live on Earth. It collects funds from all over the country and as the money filters through a vetting process it is then funnelled to the many, many inspiring organisations doing great things to support our children. Every dollar raised goes to kids. That’s what makes Telethon so special – it’s a giant tin rattle heard across the nation that then passes the money directly to the right causes for our children.
Spirit of WA on show as Telethon weekend breaks ANOTHER RECORD It could only happen in WA. Big miners, including Gina Rinehart’s companies, dug deep as did the many charitable foundations that make WA so unique. Seven West Media chair and “father of Telethon” Kerry Stokes donated $3.5 million from Australian Capital Equity. Mr Stokes said every donation was special and what made Telethon the most successful charity appeal in the world was the generosity from all walks of life.
Hancock Prospecting does so much for sport, and it is disappointing that a few people have taken away a golden opportunity from netball and the thousands of boys and girls that flock to the courts each week. Some of the sports that Hancock Prospecting supports are swimming, artistic swimming, beach volleyball, volleyball and rowing. In fact, Hancock has supported swimming in WA for more than 30 years — which must be one of the longest sponsorship arrangements in sport. Hancock Prospecting also supports the Australian Olympic Committee through a partnership.
