BA celebrates International Women’s Day with Carla Odgers
For Australian Jackaroo Carla Odgers, International Women’s Day is a day to remind ourselves how important women are in society, celebrate their achievements and continue to push for gender equality.
Odgers is one of Australia’s most elite bowlers having recently represented Australia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and also plays an important role in society as a registered nurse.
Odgers is fast becoming a household name in Australian bowls and with the recognition comes the responsibility to act as a good role model for young females bowlers across the country.
Whilst Odgers has worked hard to be considered an elite sportsperson in the sport of bowls she wants to encourage more young females to take up the sport she loves.
“It’s extremely important to be a good role model to encourage more and more women to participate in sport, have active lifestyles and in particular I want to showcase bowls as a sport that accepts and encourages women from all ages and walk of life,” Odgers said.
“I think bowls is the ideal sport for women to take up as it is suited to all ages and fitness levels; it’s a sport that not only encourages women to be active but also socially healthy.”
Bowls and sport in general has given Odgers the opportunity to travel the world, to meet lifelong friends and the chance to taste success in a competitive environment.
Although Odgers has represented her country and won many state titles she still says her ultimate accomplishment has been balancing her sport and career.
“My greatest achievement has been balancing a nursing career whilst developing my game to a high level to be in the Australian squad and represent my country,” Odgers said.
Like all elite athletes, Odgers still strives for improvement and is training hard to be selected in future benchmark events, the Asia Pacific Championships and World Championships in New Zealand and has set herself specific goals to develop her game.
“In the short term I’m focusing on my back end bowling skills to help Victoria reach our goal of winning the Marj Morris trophy at the Australian Sides Championships in April,” Odgers said.
“In the long term I hope to improve my singles game and one day win a medal for Australia.”
Odgers has been bowling for eight years and in that time has seen the sport become more appealing to female players and grow in leaps and bounds.
“In Victoria competitions outside the normal working week now allow the career woman the chance to participate, we now have trendy and comfortable uniforms to wear and development programs are increasingly being introduced to help the new bowler advance quicker,” Odgers said.
If you want to see Odgers in action this week get to Wagga Wagga where you will find Victoria taking on New South Wales in an annual test series from March 4-5.
