meet Our Committee

SHE/HER

One of our longest serving members, there aren’t many roles at Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby that Sarah hasn’t taken on. A bouting level skater, she is a talented blocker and jammer combo - making her a fierce competitor on the track.

Off the track she has contributed her energy, talent and hours to everything from graphic design, treasury, coaching and possibly most notably, the development of our AMAZING Skate Fit Program curriculum.

Sarah’s leadership has directly resulted in a near tripling of our members through this program.

From Sarah: “I started skating in 2012 and have been on the committee since 2013. I've loved helping build our club to where it's at today, and I am looking forward to competing more as a bouting skater now that our shed has a safe kids space! I love meeting new people and welcoming them to our GRRD family!”

SHE/HER/they

Lisa (aka Tenacious Rex / Rexy) started with Bendigo’s Dragon City Roller Derby club in their Learn to Skate program in 2018, as a way to get fit doing something she’d enjoyed as a kid. She was adamant she’d never play derby! By mid-year, she was regularly attending derby training and a total convert.

Apart from training and supporting new members to build their understanding of derby, she’s contributed as an NSO both in Victoria and at TGSS and refereed home games and scrims.

In May 2023 Lisa moved to Gippsland, having connected with GRRD even before she left Bendigo. She passed her Red Star assessment at her first training session.

Rather than bouting, Lisa is building her fitness, agility, and ‘derby brain’ to be a skating official/referee. She still loves contact drills during training, though!

“I started roller derby training at the age of 50, having avoided any sport or physical exercise beyond walking since I could voluntarily get out of it at school. I’m a living example that it’s never too late – I believe I’m stronger and fitter in my 50s than I was in my 20s! I love how genuinely inclusive roller derby is – it not only welcomes, it actively celebrates diversity in bodies, brains and identities. It’s a place I call home.”

SHE/HER

Kacey began Skate Fit in term 1 2020, after seeing a post about the grand opening of the Traralgon Shed. After the June 2021 floods, Kacey worked closely with the committee to help the recovery effort, joining the committee shortly after as the OH&S Coordinator.

Kacey debuted as a full bouting skater at The Great Southern Slam 2024 and loves any chance to get on track as a jammer to weave through the teams!

Kacey has returned for a second year as the Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby Treasurer.

SHE/HER

One of our longest serving members, there aren’t many roles at Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby that Sarah hasn’t taken on. A bouting level skater, she is a talented blocker and jammer combo - making her a fierce competitor on the track.

Off the track she has contributed her energy, talent and hours to everything from graphic design, treasury, coaching and possibly most notably, the development of our AMAZING Skate Fit Program curriculum.

Sarah’s leadership has directly resulted in a near tripling of our members through this program.

From Sarah: “I started skating in 2012 and have been on the committee since 2013. I've loved helping build our club to where it's at today, and I am looking forward to competing more as a bouting skater now that our shed has a safe kids space! I love meeting new people and welcoming them to our GRRD family!”

SHE/HER

Sez began her roller skating journey in 2013 with WestSide Roller Derby in their Derby Fit class and like most folks, fell head over heels with roller skating. After a challenging few years and a serious ankle break at a skatepark in 2018, she decided to take an indefinite break from skating.

After moving to Gippsland in 2021 during Covid, Sez slowly regained her confidence on skates and rekindled her love for skating. She joined the SkateFit program in Meeniyan in late 2023 before moving to the Churchill class. Having relocated from Melbourne without knowing anyone locally, joining the club also became a way for her to connect with a welcoming, like-minded community.

Her passion for skating has continued to sky rocket since. Sez has progressed through the star levels and is now an Orange Star (modified contact) skater and a trainer at Churchill SkateFit. Outside of roller derby, she enjoys hitting the skatepark with her husband (who also skates) and strength training at her local gym.

SHE/HER

Maddi or “Splat” started SkateFit in November 2020 as a little 15 year old. She started just for a source of fitness and something to do, not thinking about roller derby at all. But alas, got her white star June 2021 and joined league later on in August 2022.

She progressed through the stars and became a bouting skater May 2023. Since then she’s taken on the role of a SkateFit trainer and now a member of the committee.

“This club is truly so welcoming and supportive of everything I’ve put myself to and I can’t wait for what the future brings.”

SHE/HER

Combining a love of photography and an education in communications and digital marketing, Rah delights in capturing and sharing the laughs, falls, and all of the special moments that make skating such a special community to be a part of.

With a plethora of Sarah’s in the GRRD family, this skater adopted the skating name ‘Rah’ from the moment she put on a helmet and started her skating journey in early 2022.

These days, you can find her training SkateFit at Churchill or Meeniyan, skating as a full contact blocker at Victoria’s Roller Derby Tournament ‘Statewide Stampede’, or in the centre of the track, sticking to parameters of a media box whilst documenting big hits, jammer whips and apex jumps.

he/they

Dean first became interested in roller derby after attending the annual pride cup in 2022.

Wanting more engagement in LGBTQIA+ welcoming spaces, he decided to join Skate Fit and after a year of hard work and determination gained his white star, as well as the MVP award for the Churchill Skate Fit program.

Grateful for the love and support of the Gippsland Rangers, Dean wanted to give back to the club that had given him so much, becoming a general member of the committee in 2024.

Dean hopes he can help continue spreading the love of the Gippsland Rangers to other gender diverse and queer people looking for a safe and warm space to belong and grow.