ZazStyle

 “Does the eye deceive? Is that really an attractive young woman running around on the field and blowing the whistle?” This was the opening to an article in the Junior Rugby News, dated May 12, 1971. And this attractive young woman in question? That’s my Auntie Rob. She made her Rugby refereeing debut in 1971 in a mini skirt at age 26, the first female referee in Australia. As anyone who knew her would know, Rob has always walked to the beat of her own drum. When she finished high school she went to secretarial school, and after a “gap year” to the UK, taking a boat each way as this was the 60s, she got a job at Sydney Rugby Union upon her return, and quickly fell in love with the sport. In 1968 she sat the referees exam, which of course she wasn’t allowed to because she’s a woman. True to herself as usual, she investigated the constitution which contained no mention of gender, and then made her case to the Chairman who graciously permitted her to sit the exam, though knowing Rob, ...

After nearly 12 years (😱) living in Canada, I am finally a citizen!  Most of you reading this will know my story by now, but to recap, I first moved to Toronto in 2011 on a Working Holiday Visa for what I thought would be a year, but then I met a boy and stayed.  Now here's the real fun part of how I got to this point, as it's a long way from a working holiday visa to citizenship!  Back in 2013 you were allowed to apply to IEC program (International Experience Canada - the Canadian working holiday program) twice, but now a second round is a lot more complicated, so I am grateful it was an option for me at the time.  Something I haven't shared much is the fact that my mum is also a Canadian citizen. She moved Canada around the same age I was when I moved here, for 6 years, and managed to also get her citizenship. My brother and I were actually eligible for Canadian citizenship if we applied before the age of 18, but my dad thought it probably wouldn't be necessary fo...