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This is a time when people from all walks of life, cultures and political persuasions get together to support their national team in the biggest sporting event on the planet.
The World Cup is the pinnacle and it’s every footballers dream to lift the World Cup as champions and Lucy Zeezou is no different. She dreams of playing for the Matildas at the Women’s World Cup but she has a lot of hard work ahead of her and must reach many short term goals before she reaches her dream. Does she stay on course?
That’s always a test in life. When we have a target to reach it gives us a purpose but it’s also easy to sometimes move off track and lose sight of the target. Lucy is tested by her close friend and former team mate, Max but she doesn’t realize that she also has very strong feelings for him. Another character though comes into the mix and tests their relationship.
Max also dreams of World Cup glory but for him it’s more than a trophy, it’s the chance of a new life … a life off the streets and a chance for independence. This is the power of football … the beautiful game!
I love flicking through fashion magazines and checking out the latest designs but more for observing the artistic style than something I’d choose to wear. I like to be comfortable and just hang out in jeans and t shirt … just like Lucy Zeezou, although I love dressing up for a big night out. That’s when I mostly opt for black, dressed up with my fave jewellery. Lucy has her pick of designers but I think that a lot of their clothing belongs on the catwalk and should stay there. There’s a Lucy Zeezou competition in this month’s Dolly and it’s funny because it takes me back to when I was a teenager. It was my favourite magazine when I was growing up and it’s where I used to source a lot of information about things that I couldn’t discuss with my Mum. Back then I admired the models and wanted to be just like them until I grew wiser and realised it wasn’t for me. I was more interested in playing tennis and hanging out at my local tennis centre with my friends which were all male. I realised that this mimic’s Lucy’s life although she has a passion for football. I followed football in my twenties as a journalist and my highlight was covering the 1998 World Cup in Paris. That’s where I experienced the perfect mix of fashion and football.
What’s your passion?
After spending close to a year immersed in Lucy Zeezou’s amazing world, full of glamour and excitement, it was time to celebrate the release of the sequel, Lucy Zeezou’s Glamour Game. I loved being caught up in her adventures and web of intrigue but I was surprised by the challenges that unfolded in the story. The World Cup is timely for Lucy as it’s her dream to play in it and so the launch had a sporty theme mixed with a little glamour.
I was thrilled that Therese Rein, wife of the Prime Minister, the hon. Kevin Rudd agreed to launch Lucy. She was so engaging, down to earth, inspirational and to my surprise a big Lucy Zeezou fan. The Matildas’- Sally Shipard, Leena Khamis, Lauren Colthorpe, Danielle Small, head coach Tom Sermanni and Paralympian David Hall gave Lucy fans the chance to meet their sporting idols. SBS TV’s Karla Grant also delivered a moving speech and the MC’s Jared Deep and Dylan Deep-Jones set the tone for an incredible night. The entertainment was mesmerising, opened by freestyle national champion, Kane Edwards, singer Dean Motopoulos and the amazing Love Lucy Dancers who made the event a great party and one I’ll never forget.
What are your memorable Lucy moments?
I’ve worked as a sports television journalist for close to fifteen years and have been lucky enough to have met and interviewed international and national athletes and coaches who have reached the pinnacle of their careers. They include the Hockeyroos, Socceroos, Matildas, Ian Thorpe, Susie O’Neill, the Opals, Linford Christie and Paralympians, Louise Sauvage and David Hall. Unfortunately women’s sport still struggles to gain main stream media coverage, even though their results have been outstanding on the global stage. The Matildas, (Australian women’s football team) have inspired the nation with their attacking style of play and their impressive results. Recently they qualified for the 2011 Women’s World Cup and came home as Asian Cup Champions after winning a hard fought final against North Korea in China. If the Socceroos won a major trophy their achievement would have made headline news. But their female counterparts don’t complain as they just get on with the job and continue to live their dream, even though many of them still have to juggle their fulltime work commitments with their training schedules to make ends meet. The Matilda’s attitude and passion for their sport have inspired many aspects of my main character, Lucy Zeezou and they continue to inspire me. Lucy aspires to be a Matilda.
Who’s your favourite Matilda?
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