I was born in Lameroo, in the Mallee region of South Australia, and grew up on the family farm in Galga. A typical country girl, I was a bit of a tomboy and could drive a tractor by the age of 10.
Whatever the boys did, I did too. Attending school in the remote outback Mallee country, I played full-back for my school’s football team, winning the best and fairest award twice.
I’ve always had a great love for footy. Before the Second World War, my dad played for the Adelaide beachside suburb of Glenelg. He would jump in the car and travel from his farm near the town of Geranium in the state’s south-east to play full-forward for the club.
His prolific goal-scoring ability earned him the nickname, ‘Leader Lush’ (Lush being my maiden name). After his South Australian Football League career, he played in the bush, where he won two Border Mail medals, for being the league best and fairest. The second medal was awarded posthumously by former Adelaide Crows ruckman Shaun Rehn, because at the time the medal was announced, dad lost on a count-back.
Even today, football is never far away. One of my nieces is married to former Port Adelaide player Jared Poulton, and another is the wife of ex-Adelaide Crow Simon Tregenza.
In 1983, while I was performing in The Sound of Music, I became lady patron of the Fitzroy Football Club. Now I am lady patron of the Brisbane Lions, and a passionate supporter.
Traditionally I attend the first game of the season at the Gabba. This year I had the pleasure of enjoying dinner there with Eddie Maguire, when the Lions beat Collingwood by three points!
When I’m at the football, I much prefer being on the outer eating a meat pie than attending formal functions. When I’m overseas performing, I always get results sent over to me, and DVDs of the games that I’ve missed.
These days I live about 100 metres from the MCG. Finals is such an exciting time to be in Melbourne, and I try to get along to matches when I can. Several times, I’ve sung along with myself to the national anthem as it is played over the loudspeakers. Not many fans can claim to have done that!
Being recognised as lady patron of Fitzroy and Brisbane is a great honour. I would love to see the concept adopted of awarding lady club patrons for the year. Each club could select a patron – the people who wash the jumpers, the occasional celebrity – as a way to recognise the contribution of women in football.
Julie Anthony is one of Australia’s most awarded entertainers. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979, in recognition of service to the entertainment industry and a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 in recognition of service to the performing arts and to the community.
