This document discusses the Bundaberg Rumruckers rugby club and ways to promote inclusion. It describes the club as having 50 members from varied backgrounds who enjoy friendship and travel. While differences are welcomed, the club is predominantly male. The document suggests having a conversation to further involve women by demonstrating appreciation, encouraging women's participation in leadership roles, and supporting women's involvement in games through their own matches, skills training, and refereeing. The goal is to strengthen a sense of belonging for all members and benefit the health of the club.

1. Our Community
Our Future…

2. Bundaberg Rum Ruckers
Our Community. Our Future
Introduction to
our community
Belonging and
difference
A
conversation
to aid
inclusion

3. Introduction to our
community
Our community. Our Future.

4.  Bundaberg Rumruckers
 Golden Oldies rugby union club
from Bundaberg, Queensland.
 50 members from mixed class
and racial backgrounds
 Mainly men
 Fun, friendship and fraternity
Who Are We?

5.  Play where the games are
 Make our community recognisable at
any ground with the use of
kit, banners and our club mascot
 Travel the world to international
carnivals and games
Who Are We?

6. Belonging and difference

7.  Our ages, backgrounds and
experiences whilst not the same give
us a commonality which is the basis
of the club
 Our love of rugby and desire to
spend time with similarly minded
people
 Our place within the wider
community helps us to identify
ourselves
What makes us belong?

8.  Differences in class and race are
welcomed, these are positive
differences that the club has
embraced
 Large difference between the
gender roles in the club
 This may be viewed as a positive
difference or a negative difference
What makes us belong?

9.  Women can play in the
club, however on the main part their
roles are different and distinct from
that of the men
 Women have a supporting role, help
with the BBQ’s, drive the
bus, support and encourage the men
 Some men may embrace the fact
that it is a predominantly male club
 Others are equally glad that women
are present even in smaller
proportions
What makes us belong?

10.  Accepting that the role of women in
the club is different, could we
develop the roles of women in the
club to embrace a wider sense of
belonging?
 Would this benefit the club overall?
What makes us belong?

11. A conversation to aid inclusion

12.  Community involvement is a key
human desire.
 the stronger the sense of belonging
within a group the healthier the
group will be and the more benefit
each participant will gain.
 Accepting that some women within
the Rumruckers may be quite happy
with their current roles, are there
ways that we can embrace those
roles and give more opportunities
for those who would like a greater
involvement.
 I have considered three suggestions
that as a group we could discuss and
consider…
Ideas to aid inclusion..

13. Conversation topic 1
 Do we demonstrate our appreciation for the women who support us?
 Is there more we can do to demonstrate this appreciation?
 If our women feel a greater sense of belonging within the club will that
encourage a greater number of women members to join?
Ideas to aid inclusion..

14. Conversation topic 2
 Our club organisation and committee structure is entirely made up of men and
has been for the past few years, what could be done to encourage the
participation of women in this area and how would this benefit the club?
Ideas to aid inclusion..

15. Conversation topic 3
 How can we encourage women to become more active on the field?
 Could we incorporate a woman’s game?
 Could we do some skills training for the women?
 Could we encourage women to train as referees?
Ideas to aid inclusion..