FOAD

'Well, we have just witnessed an incredible tipping point for Women’s sport,’ said Janno. 'Just listen to these statistics: -Most watched TV program in Australia for two decades, with the semi-final match Matildas against England, having 11.5 million viewers; -18.6 million Australians watched the World Cup series on the host TV network; -Stadium crowds of over 1.9 million; -And, a worldwide audience of over 2 billion viewers.’

'I wonder what it says about Australian religious institutions and their level of active participation,’ said Alphy.

'It confirms what we’ve always known, Alphy, that Sport is Australia’s spiritual home,’ replied Johno. ‘And I have to say, this World Cup really has changed my opinion on Women’s sport. I was honestly surprised, how much I enjoyed the style and quality of the football.’

'Also, who would have imagined the time would come when the main sporting hero in Australia, the Captain of the Matildas, Sam Kerr, would be a gay woman of colour?’ said Janno. ‘Plus nine main team players and three reserves of the Matildas, are in same-sex relationships. And can you believe that boys, yes boys, are going to school wearing the jerseys of their favourite Matildas players.’

'And I wonder what religious institutions think about that stark reality? remarked Alphy.

'No doubt, some will be making some sneering remarks along the lines of, there will be more penalties for those to face in the after-life,' said Johno scornfully.

'Unfortunately, the inherent abuse of power in male dominated Football Associations continues,’ said Janno. ‘Last September, 15 of Spain’s players maintained they wouldn’t play in this World Cup specifically because of the Spanish team manager Jorge Vilda, alleging he had fostered team conditions of abuse, fear, and bigotry. Only three of said players actually ended up travelling to Australia and New Zealand, with Vilda making the final roster decisions.’

'And they still bloody won the World Cup,’ exclaimed Johno. ‘What are they going to be like when they actually like their Coach? Clearly what we should have done is gone into the change rooms after the finals, and offered them Aussie passports. Say Hasta la vista to Creepy Coach, become an Aussie, Aussie, Aussie - Oi, Oi, Oi!

'Then we had another classic example of men behaving badly’, said Janno, ‘the Royal Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales criticised for, can you believe it, kissing Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth, during the medal ceremony. After Spain's victory, in the final of the Women's World Cup on Sunday in Sydney. Hence the expression, the men in Spain - fall mainly in the vain’ she quipped.

'And speaking of Royal football, how about the Queen of Spain attending with her daughter in contrast to the no show of Prince William, the President of the English Football Association, not turning up to watch the English Lionesses in the finals,’ said Johno. ‘Instead, making some lame video with his daughter, and not including his sons, because clearly they wouldn’t be interested in women’s football. Then trying to justify not taking the trip based on sustainability. Give me a break. What does it say, when the future King of England, and Head of State for Australia, says we are too far away to visit sustainably! I think we all know what isn’t sustainable!’

'Now the World Cup is over, attention will no doubt return to the Voice,’ said Janno. ‘So which way are you leaning Johno?’

'I’m somewhat undecided,’ he replied. ‘I agree with Constitutional recognition, but not sure if I agree with giving a special Voice to a specific group, on the basis that they have lived here longer than the rest of us. And then there’s the issue of what demands will be made. Increased land rights for example?’

'The reality is,’ said Janno, ‘that anything they propose, or any demands made, would need to be formally accepted and approved by the Government of the day. So, the chances of anything too radical or controversial going ahead, are tending to zero. Therefore it’s a question of what really is the risk-reward of having the Voice?’

‘Talking of sustainability. What if a more advanced life-form from another world, let’s say Alpha-Centauri hypothetically, came and colonised Earth,’ said Alphy addressing Johno. ‘Would you not hope that the Centaurians, would acknowledge that Homo-Sapiens, have successfully, evolved and survived for 300,000 years, and at least listen to what they had to say, and what they might have to contribute to the betterment of the Cosmos. Or alternatively, would you be of the view, that they were entitled to say: we won, you lost, we are the superior victors, you have no Voice. FOAD!’