Sport
19 February, 2024
Big crowd on hand to hear Jelena Dokic
Jelena Dokic’s visit to Maryborough was a major success story for the town on Friday, with 90 people attending the talk at the Maryborough Tennis Centre. Dokic visited to discuss her second book, Fearless, which is out in book stores, and spoke...
Jelena Dokic’s visit to Maryborough was a major success story for the town on Friday, with 90 people attending the talk at the Maryborough Tennis Centre.
Dokic visited to discuss her second book, Fearless, which is out in book stores, and spoke about the challenges that have arisen from speaking out against past family violence and also depression, social media trolls and celebrating her personal wins.
Words In Winter’s Janice Simpson hosted the chat alongside Heather Carr from the Maryborough Tennis Centre, and Simpson was thrilled with the community response.
“The crowd response was fantastic. Everyone who I spoke to after the event and during the weekend has said what a great event it was and how they really enjoyed it,” she said.
“They enjoyed the afternoon tea provided by both the Maryborough Tennis Centre people and the Words In Winter people, which is something that happens in the country that’s so lovely. Jelena was surprised by the afternoon tea too.”
Members of the community were joined by council and state government figures, with mayor Liesbeth Long, Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and council’s manager for community and wellbeing Emma Little attending.
Simpson believed there was an incredibly important message that should be taken out from Dokic’s visit to the town. “Having the courage to speak out and call things out was a good thing from what she said,” she said.
“I think it’s very important. Family violence is kind of a hidden underbelly in this community, as it is in any community, but we know it exists. Rotary is doing a lot of work focusing on that.”
Simpson wanted to thank Carr for her work in helping deliver the chat, saying her enthausiasm helped make the event what it was.
“Heather Carr was excited when I asked about it at the end of last year. She has been a great support,” she said.
Simpson is now focused on delivering the Words In Winter program, which will see a bevy of writers attend the town to discuss their published pieces from all walks of life.
“We have quite a developed program, but it’s not fully finished yet,” she said.
“It is for June 28, 29 and 30. We have people from Castlemaine, Maryborough, Melbourne and interstate coming to be on panels.”
