ADF Helps Train Olympic Women’s Basketball Team ‘The Opals’ At Land Warfare Centre
Department of Defence Media Mail List
CPA 239/08 Monday, 21 July 2008
The Army’s Land Warfare Centre at Canungra has been hosting 12 players from the Australian Olympic Women’s Basketball
Team, the Opals, in a three-day camp.
The event has built upon the long-term affiliation between the Opals and Defencejobs. The Army Land Warfare Centre
organised and conducted a range of activities designed to develop leadership and instil the Army’s core values of
courage, initiative and teamwork in team members.
“The players have built upon their will to win and learnt how important leadership is in influencing and directing
people,” said Lauren Jackson, the team’s Captain.
“Our theme for pre-Olympic training was attention to detail, and we looked no further than the Army to find a benchmark
organisation that delivered in all aspects of what we could learn as a team,” she said.
Colonel Mark Frendin, the Commander of the Land Warfare Centre, said he was very impressed with the attitude of the
players.
“They were enthusiastic and positive throughout the course, which was quite challenging, both physically and mentally,”
he said.
“They have developed a greater appreciation of how well-trained and well-equipped our soldiers are for current and
future operations.”
2006 World Championship Most Valuable Player, Penny Taylor and Olympic debutant Rohanee Cox agreed that the players all
felt an enormous sense of achievement after completing the course.
“All of the players have great respect for Army personnel, the institution and the organisation. The thing that stands
out the most is how much the soldiers respect their values and apply this to every aspect of their life,” Penny Taylor
said.
“I’ve had the time of my life and it has certainly prepared me for the contest in Beijing,” Rohanee Cox said.
ENDS