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The Wide Bay zone is situated on the Country of the Kabi Kabi, Gureng Gureng, Butchulla and Wakka Wakka peoples. The zone includes K’gari (Fraser Island), Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Maryborough and Gympie.
Women started playing football in the Wide Bay area in 1970s.
In 1976, Bundaberg had 65 registered players and a popular women’s football carnival was held every year attracting teams from all over Queensland.
In the 1980s, women’s football membership in Bundaberg and in the Wide Bay area was low. However, Bundaberg was home to star player, Connie Byrnes (Later Connie Selby) during this time. Connie had captained the Matildas at the World Women’s Invitational Tournament in Taipei (Taiwan) and was awarded ‘Miss Football’ for Australia.
In the 1990s, three women started a women’s competition in Gympie. The Wide Bay area currently has 21 clubs and just over 4,500 registered players as of 2016. You can find the current clubs fielding women’s teams on the Wide Bay website.
Read a more in depth history of the region below.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the events presented in this digital history occurred and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their continuing connection to land and waterways as well as their rich history of sports and significant continuing contribution to football.
