By Luke Voogt
Grovedale’s Tegan Kearney will dedicate her dodgeball debut at the Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games to dad Michael, who is battling terminal lung cancer.
Kearney has played dodgeball for eight years and her dad was on her team before he was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer in late 2019.
“He still tries to come down when he’s got the strength,” she said.
Sadly, the cancer has spread, meaning Michael could have just months or weeks to live.
“I’m hoping that he’s well enough to come and watch this one,” Kearney said.
“He’s keen and he’s trying to stay fit and well.”
The Grovedale CFA staff member will become an “honorary cop” next Saturday (March 20) on her 36th birthday, joining a team of police dodgeballers.
She initially started playing the sport with wife Kylie Flanagan, who she married just before COVID-19 hit in February 2020.
“We were a mixed netball team originally, and then my partner found out there was dodgeball,” she said.
“It was so good that we ditched the netball team and all turned into dodgeballers!”
Tegan had hoped to set up a “firey team” after discovering the games, which include 40-plus sports from handgun shooting and bowls to cricket and crossfit.
“As soon as I saw dodgeball I thought, ‘I’m in,’,” she said.
But with COVID-19 and her dad’s condition, she had little time to recruit a team.
“Some police from the western suburbs said, ‘come join our team’, so I guess I’ll be an honorary cop for the day,” she said.
“I can’t wait! Hopefully this will be the first of many games.”
South Geelong VICSES volunteer and Kiwi expat Bronte Bergquist is also set to debut at the games in her first-ever triathlon.
“I saw that the emergency services games were happening in Geelong, so I thought it would be good to have a go and have something to work towards,” the 27-year-old said.
Bergquist met her Australian partner in the US before moving across the ditch to join her.
“We’ve built a house together in Charlemont, so we’re here to stay,” she said.
“It’s actually just finished so we’re getting the keys tomorrow.”
She joined VICSES about two years ago to meet new people and give back to her new community.
“We don’t have an SES in New Zealand,” she said.
“I also saw a boat at their open night and I love boats, so that was the main reason, I guess.”
She recently completed a boat crewperson course, but spends most of her time in VICSES helping at homes damaged by storms.
“It’s mixed emotions getting a callout,” she said.
“I really like helping but at the same time it means someone’s having a really bad day.”
Bergquist remembers one storm-related callout where her day job in the disability sector came in handy dealing with an autistic boy.
“It was about making less noise and keeping away from their son, so he wasn’t overstimulated by all those people walking around in bright orange,” she said.
She recently completed her first 10km run and looks forward to the challenge of a 500m swim, 20km ride and 5km run combined.
“I’ll probably be the least competitive person there but it will be good to give it go,” she said.
The Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games run next Wednesday to Sunday at various locations across Geelong.
