IT’S a proud enough moment for one child to be selected to represent Australia in a sport, now imagine three sons being selected!
This is the case for Kylie York and Ken York, parents of Corben, Deegan and Jaidyn, who have all been selected to play roller derby for Australia in the World State Games in September in Italy.
The sport is loved by the whole family, and the passion kicked off when Kylie started roller derby while they all still lived in Darwin in 2016, and then her husband Ken, and all four sons started too.
Their youngest son, Logan, decided to not trial for the national team this year.
Since moving to the Sunshine Coast, the whole family has played for the Coastal Assassins, where they play in a mixed gender team together.
However, at the World Skate Games, the brothers were selected on the men’s team as per the Olympic standards for roller derby.
Kylie, who is the national men’s and women’s team manager and previously represented the country, said it was amazing they were all selected.
“Its absolutely ridiculous, it gives me goosebumps thinking about it and having been to two tours for the world skate games I know what it means to stand there when your Australian national anthem is playing and you are standing in front of that flag,” she said.
“It’s an incredible feeling for yourself to be an athlete but to watch your kids have that moment its unbelievable.”
Kylie added that although the team is recognised as an authorised Australian representative team, the funding in skate sports is not there.
“It’s a lot of money to be completely self sufficient and to fund everything, but it will cost them $7000 each to compete in Italy,” she said.
“If you don’t want to donate to them directly, you can donate to the whole team or sponsor the team.
“Donations over $2 are tax deductible, so any help would be greatly appreciated.”
The team manager said the great thing about roller derby is that it’s one of few sports where you can play with your whole family, no matter your shape or size.
To donate visit the links below. https://asf.org.au/projects/deegan-york/deegan-york-world-skate-games-2024
https://asf.org.au/projects/corben-york/corben-york-world-skate-games-2024
https://asf.org.au/projects/jaidyn-york/jaidyn-york-world-skate-games-2024
