Phoebe’s match day
by Phoebe & Libby Mitchell (Phoebe’s mother)
The Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience was absolutely fabulous! I felt so special in my ‘umpires’ uniform, and heading to Marvel Stadium on the train with my mum and dad, my brother Ed and my 5-year-old nephew.
Our chaperones were Fiona McBurney’s brother Vincent and Murray, who has a daughter with Down syndrome. They met us beforehand and took us into the umpires’ rooms. It was so special being behind and underneath Marvel Stadium. We met the umpires and had our photos taken and I received a special lanyard. Then we were shown our seats, and I sat with the umpires on the benches between the two teams, St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney. Wow, right on the edge of the ground! They were all so lovely to me and I practised holding the ball above my head and tossing the coin.
I met some old AFL players, Brad Johnson, Nick Dal Santo, Robert Harvey and Cameron Ling, but my favourite was Joel Selwood. He came over from broadcasting to say hello. David Rodan was an umpire and he used to play for Port Adelaide. He was friendly too.
I walked out to the middle of the ground with the umpires, holding the football above my head. The stadium was so huge and full of spectators. It was an amazing sight and a lovely clear afternoon. The High Commissioner of Fiji was there and he asked me if I wanted to toss the coin. I had been practising tossing a coin all week at home, so I was very excited. He was so kind to me.
At the breaks I carried the water bottles out to the umpires, and after the match the head umpire presented me with a signed umpire’s shirt, the coin I had tossed in a little black bag and one of the footballs from the match. It was all so special!
An interview with Phoebe
Q: Why would you recommend others apply for this experience?
It is such an unreal experience and in such an inclusive and supportive environment. They genuinely seemed to love having us all there and went out of their way to make it special and extremely memorable. Nothing was too much trouble.
I would definitely encourage anybody to apply for this experience as it’s something that most people never get the chance to do and it’s simply unreal. One of the St Kilda players even did a knuckle shake around the glass partition to my nephew. He was so happy.
Q: Who is your AFL team and favourite player?
Geelong Cats and my favourite player is Patrick Dangerfield.
Q: How were you feeling before, during and after the experience?
I was just so excited beforehand and not nervous or anything. The AFLUA chaperones, Vincent and Murray, were so supportive and the umpires so friendly, that it was all very smooth and controlled and they all made it really fun.
It was actually a bit sad saying goodbye and thank you to Vincent, Murray and the umpires at the end.
We had dinner near Marvel Stadium and I was so happy, but I hid my football in my backpack as it will always be treasured and special.
My family and I can’t thank the McBurney family enough for such a wonderful experience.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Phoebe, I am 34 and I live near Torquay with my parents. I have a nephew and niece who I adore spending time with. I also have Down syndrome and I am hearing impaired.
I have been employed at an activity camp for 16 years as part of the cleaning and operations team. I work two days a week and have worked with the same two ladies for the whole 16 years, and some days I even work alone. It’s a wonderful job and I am so lucky to be part of such an inclusive and enthusiastic team. Sometimes the school camps leave such a mess, with lolly wrappers under the beds.
For nearly three years, I have volunteered one day a week at a community house, which I absolutely love. I do all sorts of jobs there, greeting people and helping the program leaders set up and pack down. I have also volunteered for the last year at a school, in the library, scanning the children’s books in and out and replacing them on the shelves. I am about to start volunteering with the local council, assisting the Volunteers Coordinator. I can’t wait.
I am planning to move out of home, perhaps by the end of the year, into a unit alone. To get ready for this big change, I have been working with an occupational therapist doing cooking, travel training and finances. Learning about finances is the hard part. I think I’ll always need a bit of help.
In 2023, I retired from competitive swimming after more than 20 years, representing my club at local, state and national levels and representing Australia six times internationally, in Portugal, Taiwan, Italy twice, Mexico and Canada, and three times in Australia. During that time, I broke a World Down Syndrome Record 75 times and was World Champion three times. I have met so many fabulous friends through swimming. I miss lots of the bits of swimming but not the early morning training sessions!
In 2023, I represented Australia in athletics in France, earning more medals and making some really fun friends from Australia.
These days, I just go to the gym a couple of times a week, participate in some parkruns, but my biggest love is playing netball and training with a mixed all abilities team at Kardinia Park, where I play goal shooter. I love practising my goals at home whenever i can.
I love going to the footy in Geelong with my dad to watch Geelong play.
In my spare time, I love catching up at monthly dinners with my friends, especially with my boyfriend Sam. We have been together for 15 years. Some of my friends are turning 40 this year so there are extra parties and celebrations, which I love.
I have a wonderful life, with lots of friends and a great family.
If you would like to find out more about the program, visit the Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience website.