REG: The only people we hate more than the Romans are the Judean People’s Front.
PFJ MEMBER: Splitters!
REG: And the Popular Front of Judea.
PFJ MEMBER: Splitters!
REG: And the People’s Front of Judea!
PFJ MEMBER: We’re the People’s Front of Judea!
REG: Oh. I thought we were the Popular Front…
PFJ MEMBER: Splitters!

If the confusion highlighted by all the “Fronts” working against the Romans in Monty Python’s Life Of Brian doesn’t resonate here, Jo’s an Otter’s Nose (you have to watch it to understand).

Let’s be honest — if you’ve ever caught yourself whispering something similar about the explosion of women’s fishing groups across Australia, you’re not alone. I’ve heard it too.

“Wait… is it WIRFAB? WIRFNQ? WRFL? AusWIF? Reel Women? Or that new Facebook one — NSW WIRF?”

YEP! They’re all legit. All active. And yes, to the untrained eye, there’s a lot of similar acronyms to disentangle.

Some are government-funded. Some are privately run. Some have membership fees. Some are social groups, others are structured pathways. Some cast a wide community net, others hone in on competitive edge or personal transformation.

What’s clear is that we all cast from the same boat:
More women fishing. More women flourishing.

Whether the goal is confidence, community, skill development, personal leadership, mental health resilience, or high-level tournament success — each initiative is part of a rising tide. One that is long overdue.

Working On the League — and What We Learned

I’ve taken some long-overdue time in the beginning of 2025 to work on the WRFL, not just in it. The process was revealing — and exhilarating.

We stepped back. We listened. We simplified. And what emerged was a crystal-clear understanding of where WRFL fits in the ecosystem — and how we can make the whole sector easier to navigate for women and supporters alike.

We mapped our entire ecosystem of initiatives into a single, nationally-structured plan:
The Ten Year Parity Playbook — a blueprint for how we can reach 25% female participation by 2035 (the equivalent of males).

We’re not here to compete for the microphone.
We’re here to spread out a roadmap.

We’ve built the bridges, simplified entry points, and gamified exploration and learning. We’ve created an ecosystem that closes the loop — from curious beginner to confident leader. And thanks to those calling for clarity, we’ve now removed the guesswork for every business, organisation, and government body who wants to roll up their sleeves and contribute but doesn’t know where to start.

But Here’s the Risk…

Despite all the good work across the board, something else has surfaced. Something we can’t ignore.

When multiple passionate, purposeful groups surge onto the scene with similar language but different models, it creates friction… or at least muddy water.

Back in 2019, I was invited by the leader behind the WIRFAB initiative (then simply WIRF) to explore a national model that could complement the Victorian Government’s grassroots momentum. That invitation sparked the WRFL — a vehicle to fast-track women who wanted more from their hobby.

We didn’t build WRFL to compete.
We built it to complete the picture.

But as more voices and visions have emerged, so has discomfort and confusion.

When the outside world sees a flurry of similar-sounding groups, they don’t pause to examine nuance. They often do one of three things:

• Funding bodies freeze, wary of duplication or unclear value.
• Industry partners hesitate, unsure which horse to back — or afraid to “stoke a fire.”
• Anglers disengage, overwhelmed by options, underwhelmed by clarity, and uncertain whether they’re supposed to pick a side.

And most painfully…

Women stand on the shore, unsure which path is “for them,” wary of wading into perceived politics — and ultimately choosing none.

We can’t let that happen. Not after how far we’ve come.

Jo Starling joins early WIRF Leaders on stage at the National Rec’ Fishing Conference 2019 (from left, Nikki Duckworth, Cara Cummings, Jo, Belinda Yim (initiator of the WIRF movement), Shea Bloom and Karen Rees). It was at this event that Belinda asked Jo to create what is now WRFL.

What We Can Do

We can each keep doing the good work — with heart and humility.

We can recognise that diversity in delivery is not a threat, but a strength. That state-led, sector-driven, and privately-run initiatives (whether for- or not-for-profit) all have their place — and all serve different women at different stages of their journey.

This shouldn’t be about whose logo is on the leaderboard. It’s about whether women across Australia feel confident enough to pick up a rod, back themselves, and take the next step.

And we can remind each other (and the world watching) that we’re not fractured — we’re flourishing. We’re not fighting — we’re forging a future… “Women’s work”, and all that.