Karen O’Sullivan has been elected to serve as the first female president at Kyneton Football Netball Club in the same year that the club celebrates its 150th anniversary. The Barfold resident speaks with Serena Seyfort.
What’s your connection to Kyneton?
My husband, children and I moved from Port Melbourne to Springhill (near Trentham) about 17 years ago. Ten years ago we moved to Barfold, which is 17 kilometres out of Kyneton, so Kyneton became our hometown. Our four boys went to school at Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School and they started their secondary education at Sacred Heart College.
What do you like about living in the area?
We live on a large farm of 1000 acres on the Campaspe River. We find it peaceful and refreshing to be here. My husband and I both also work in the city. We love the fact that we can live in the country and commute to the city on occasion and still work from home as well.
Do you have a favourite local place?
I love the Campaspe River Walk, I walk it with friends on occasion, and the cafes in Kyneton. The cafe life is comparable to anywhere in Europe. The coffee that you get in Kyneton is unbelievable compared to some parts of Europe that I’ve been to. I always look forward to getting home to our local blends. I think we’re spoilt for choice here.
If you could change anything about the area, what would it be?
I’d have more volunteers at the football club –we’re always looking for more volunteers.
Otherwise, we’re pretty lucky. We’re probably in one of the most beautiful parts of the world here.
Tell us about your involvement with football.
I’ve been involved with football in the region for 11 years – since the boys started playing at Tylden in the previously known Midland League. When that league was disbanded in 2013, I became president of the newly formed juniors at Kyneton Football Netball Club where my sons started. I was on the executive of the juniors until 2015, during 2016-17 I was vice president of the club, and I became president last November.
Tell us about being the first female president and what’s on for the club for the year.
It was a privilege to be elected to be the first female president, but I don’t really consider the gender to be relevant. Having four sons who play football, I don’t think I was going to ever be the president of the local ballet school. My sons all play for the club in one fashion or another, among playing at school and with the Victorian Football League. The big thing for the club this year is we are going into our 150th year, which is a really remarkable achievement for the club to have come this far.
