Quidditch is an entirely volunteer run sport. This week, as nations around the world start and finish celebrating volunteers weeks, we are profiling some of the people from all around the country who help keep quidditch running. Mark Kelly is currently the President of the Victorian Quidditch Association, but he’s been volunteering in quidditch for many years in commentary and analysis, both within Australia and overseas! Mark has covered everything from Vic League Games and State Shield to the Quidditch World Cup, and was even called in as an expert analyst at the European Quidditch Cup 2019. Get a sense of what he does and why he does it below…
Quidditch is an entirely volunteer run sport. This week, as nations around the world start and finish celebrating volunteers weeks, we are profiling some of the people from all around the country who help keep quidditch running. Kathryn Cooper is currently the Chairperson of Quidditch NSW (QNSW), but she started her quidditch journey all the way back in 2013 with the University of Sydney Unspeakables. Since then, she’s been a manager, vice president, coach, captain, team mum, and inspiration to many. Get a sense of what she does and why she does it below…
Quidditch Australia is excited to announce the dates and location for the Australian National Championships, QUAFL 2019!
The tournament will be held at Kayess Park in Minto, on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of December. Quidditch Australia will be cohosting the tournament with Macarthur Weasleys Quidditch Club, who have successfully hosted two editions of their own Macarthur Fantasy Tournament, as well as a number of NSW Quidditch League days with much general acclaim. The fields here have been used for quidditch tournaments before, have ample space, are able to facilitate line marked pitches, and are an easy 45-minute train ride from Sydney, with a variety of nearby accommodation available as well.
ELIGIBILITY
All players must be full members of Quidditch Australia (QA) to be able to participate in the tournament.
State team eligibility is determined by the following clauses. You are eligible for a team if you meet any of the following:
- You currently play for a club from that state and commenced playing in that state from no later than the beginning of the current season;
- You currently live in that state;
- The team that you first played quidditch for is from that state;
- You spent the majority of school (K-12, at least 7 years cumulative) in that state.
If you have different states for each of the above criteria, you may choose which team you wish to apply for.
If you have moved states after the commencement of a season and do not meet any of the above criteria for that state, you may not apply for that state. You may however apply for the state you previously moved from, given you meet the above criteria.
Australia fields two internal club leagues – the University of Sunshine Coast Quidditch League (USCQL) which has been running for many years now, and the University of Sydney Quidditch League (USQL), which has been running since last year.
Both enter 2018 significantly changed, and have started off their respective seasons with one round a piece. We recap below:
The USC Quidditch League
After running for almost five years without changing teams, USC finally saw fit to change things up, reshuffling their four teams – Phoenix, Nargles, Thestrals, and Death Eaters, for the first time since the league’s inception. This was broadly seen as a good change, as it’s allowed the league to re-balance teams, stop some teams becoming over dominant, and make the whole competition more fun and a better learning experience for everyone, which is typically the main aim of such development focused internal leagues.
in Around The Grounds / Internal Leagues / QA Today / USCQL / USQL
by Ajantha Abey
01 Apr 2019
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In this interview, we talk to Kelsey Collins and Huw Tomlinson, two founders of the Illawarra region based Unregistered Animagi, a new team that is taking this year to start growing, before entering the competitive scene in 2020. They mostly answer questions together.
What are your roles in the club?
President – Huw Tomlinson
Manager – Kelsey Collins
Equipment/Social Media – Paige Collins
How did the idea for the team come about?
Huw – I’ve been playing for the Wollongong Warriors for 6 years and decided I wanted to expand quidditch in the Wollongong/Illawarra region. I met the Collins sisters during their brief time with the Warriors and they helped turn an idea into a reality.
In this interview, we talk to Phil Vankerkoerle and Amber Williams, two veterans of the sport from UNSW and Macquarie respectively, who have recently embarked on the great challenge of starting and leading a new team – the Inner Western Sydney based Valkyries Quidditch Club. They discuss the club’s origin story, their aspirations for the year, and the story behind #broccolis.
What is your role with the team?
Amber – I am co-captain, along with with Kathryn
Phil – I am one of the 3 coaches and treasurer for the club [the others being Raj Kapoor and Isobel “Obel” Rennie].
In this interview, we talk to Harry Jones, one of the founders of the newly formed North Sydney based Nightmares Quidditch Club, about how the team started, what the year holds in store for them, and who some of their brand new players are.
What is your role/relationship with the team?
I am the president, captain, and founder. The relationship is very parasitic. Please help.
How did the idea for the Nightmares come about?
Originally it was an idea meant for the 2018 season, involving a quite different group of players who were all close to ready for a new community team. Most players wanted another year with their original teams and so we decided to leave it a year. People dropped off and on the band wagon throughout 2018 and early 2019, and I realised that someone needed to commit to the idea or it wouldn’t happen. Then about 6 months too late I decided to do just that…
In this interview, we talk to Courtney Buckley, previously of USYD Unspeakables and now of Valkyries Quidditch Club, who was recently appointed head of Quidditch Australia’s new Gender Engagement and Initiatives Committee, as announced earlier last month. With many plans already in the works for 2019, we talk about what we can expect from the committee this year, and what she’s most excited for.
What made you want to take part in the Gender Engagement Committee?
I was keen to join the committee as it provided the opportunity to work with a group of passionate and intelligent people and the ability to pursue more projects for the community.
Quidditch Australia is excited to announce Canberra as a 2020 Quidditch World Cup winning bid location!