The Eagles Angels
Every year I’ve posted this to ensure that the Eagles Angels are not forgotten for their role in starting Women in League Round.
In November 2001 the Sea Eagles were in dire straits with the Northern Eagles debacle. Wendy Harmer and Sarah Murdoch gathered other high profile female supporters on the northern beaches and organised a fundraiser at the Manly Leagues Club raising over $80,000. More importantly, this event caught the attention of Max Delmege who came on board as the major sponsor.
This event saved the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Ian Thompson was then the CEO. He along with this group of women saved the Manly club. The next day the late Daily Telegraph Sports Journalist Peter Frilingos referred to these girls as the ‘Eagles Angels’ and the name stuck.
By 2002 the Manly club was the first to realise the importance of marketing to women. It was an untapped market in the NRL. They developed a female-only lounge. They were the first to create a female jersey designed by Collette Dinnigan. They attracted their own sponsor, Adecco, adding financial success to the clubs’ growing fortunes and on-field achievements. Each year new Angels were inducted into this incredible group of women. They organised fundraisers for charities and for the club itself.
In 2005 Domayne came on board as their major sponsor and decorated the lounge with a chandelier and Florence Broadhurst wallpaper. Guests could have their nails painted, cards read from a tarot card reader and hair blow-dried, all while sipping champagne and watching Manly play.
One evening Katie Page, Domayne’s CEO, visited the lounge along with David Gallop the then NRL CEO. Katie's comment to David ‘The NRL must do something for women. This is fantastic!’ Wendy Harmer shared ideas with the NRL about the activities the Angels did with the club and how similar initiatives could work for other clubs. The collaboration led to the creation of the NRL Women in League initiative in 2006 which is still going strong to this day.
The Angels ceased to exist after December 2014.
I believe it’s essential for people to recognize the significance of these women in the establishment of the Women in League Round.
They are an extraordinary and inspiring group of women who are passionate about Manly and worked unpaid to promote the club and Women in League, contributing over $5.5 million during their time for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles through events, sponsorship and merchandise.
Until now, the Angels have never been formally recognized.
One day, I’d like to think they will be.
Below are the names of the Eagles Angels:
Wendy Harmer
Sarah Murdoch
Kerri Pottharst
Layne Beachley
Nici Andronicus
Shelley Taylor Smith
Louise Sauvage
Shelley Oates Wilding
Debbie Watson
Zali Steggall
Annie Sargeant
Naomi Flood
Melinda Gainsford Taylor
Melissa Femia
Brooke Hanson
Amy O’Mara
Laura Enever
Sarah Peattie
Tracey Spicer
Tracy Bevan
Jenny Lyons
Jean Hay
Maryanne Fogarty
Krystal Barter
Thank you, Eagles Angels, for your contribution to Women In League.
Thank you to sponsors – Max Delmege, Adecco, Domayne, Westfield Warringah Mall and Lavazza.
#WendyHarmer #SarahMurdoch #KerriPottharst #LayneBeachley #NiciAndronicus #ShelleyTaylorSmith #LouiseSauvage #ShelleyOatesWilding #DebbieWatson #ZaliSteggall
#AnnieSargeant #NaomiFlood #MelindaGainsfordTaylor #MelissaFemia #BrookeHanson #AmyOMara #LauraEnever #SarahPeattie #TraceySpicer #TracyBevan #JennyLyons #JeanHay #MaryanneFogarty #KrystalBarter
#MaxDelmege #Adecco #Domayne #WestfieldWarringahMall #Lavazza #ManlyWarringahSeaEagles #eaglesangels
Every year I’ve posted this to ensure that the Eagles Angels are not forgotten for their role in starting Women in League Round.
In November 2001 the Sea Eagles were in dire straits with the Northern Eagles debacle. Wendy Harmer and Sarah Murdoch gathered other high profile female supporters on the northern beaches and organised a fundraiser at the Manly Leagues Club raising over $80,000. More importantly, this event caught the attention of Max Delmege who came on board as the major sponsor.
This event saved the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Ian Thompson was then the CEO. He along with this group of women saved the Manly club. The next day the late Daily Telegraph Sports Journalist Peter Frilingos referred to these girls as the ‘Eagles Angels’ and the name stuck.
By 2002 the Manly club was the first to realise the importance of marketing to women. It was an untapped market in the NRL. They developed a female-only lounge. They were the first to create a female jersey designed by Collette Dinnigan. They attracted their own sponsor, Adecco, adding financial success to the clubs’ growing fortunes and on-field achievements. Each year new Angels were inducted into this incredible group of women. They organised fundraisers for charities and for the club itself.
In 2005 Domayne came on board as their major sponsor and decorated the lounge with a chandelier and Florence Broadhurst wallpaper. Guests could have their nails painted, cards read from a tarot card reader and hair blow-dried, all while sipping champagne and watching Manly play.
One evening Katie Page, Domayne’s CEO, visited the lounge along with David Gallop the then NRL CEO. Katie's comment to David ‘The NRL must do something for women. This is fantastic!’ Wendy Harmer shared ideas with the NRL about the activities the Angels did with the club and how similar initiatives could work for other clubs. The collaboration led to the creation of the NRL Women in League initiative in 2006 which is still going strong to this day.
The Angels ceased to exist after December 2014.
I believe it’s essential for people to recognize the significance of these women in the establishment of the Women in League Round.
They are an extraordinary and inspiring group of women who are passionate about Manly and worked unpaid to promote the club and Women in League, contributing over $5.5 million during their time for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles through events, sponsorship and merchandise.
Until now, the Angels have never been formally recognized.
One day, I’d like to think they will be.
Below are the names of the Eagles Angels:
Wendy Harmer
Sarah Murdoch
Kerri Pottharst
Layne Beachley
Nici Andronicus
Shelley Taylor Smith
Louise Sauvage
Shelley Oates Wilding
Debbie Watson
Zali Steggall
Annie Sargeant
Naomi Flood
Melinda Gainsford Taylor
Melissa Femia
Brooke Hanson
Amy O’Mara
Laura Enever
Sarah Peattie
Tracey Spicer
Tracy Bevan
Jenny Lyons
Jean Hay
Maryanne Fogarty
Krystal Barter
Thank you, Eagles Angels, for your contribution to Women In League.
Thank you to sponsors – Max Delmege, Adecco, Domayne, Westfield Warringah Mall and Lavazza.
#WendyHarmer #SarahMurdoch #KerriPottharst #LayneBeachley #NiciAndronicus #ShelleyTaylorSmith #LouiseSauvage #ShelleyOatesWilding #DebbieWatson #ZaliSteggall
#AnnieSargeant #NaomiFlood #MelindaGainsfordTaylor #MelissaFemia #BrookeHanson #AmyOMara #LauraEnever #SarahPeattie #TraceySpicer #TracyBevan #JennyLyons #JeanHay #MaryanneFogarty #KrystalBarter
#MaxDelmege #Adecco #Domayne #WestfieldWarringahMall #Lavazza #ManlyWarringahSeaEagles #eaglesangels
