SOUTHERN INLAND RUGBY UNION
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THERE is no sense of trepidation for Harriet Elleman as she prepares to take her seat on the Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) board.
Elleman is the first female board member to be elected in the history of the association.
At 20 years of age she will also be one of the youngest.
It sounds like a daunting assignment, but Elleman says she has been welcomed to the committee with open arms.
"All the gentlemen I've spoken to so far have been very supportive of having a female on the board," Elleman said.
"I know I will get to have my own say and have their support all the way.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Elleman moved to Wagga from Nowra two years ago to begin a bachelor of animal science degree at Charles Sturt University.
She was a keen swimmer in her younger days and then took up touch football, before she "fell in love" with rugby sevens after her first taste.
Elleman captained the Ag College women's sevens team this year.
She says the main objective for her first season on the SIRU board will be to strengthen the new sevens competition.
"I wanted to be a part of the rugby community, step up and have my say," she said.
"I'll focus on the women, I'll be a representative for the sevens and sort of be a contact between them and the board."
Elleman will also play a role in SIRU's sponsorship deals for 2014.
SIRU president Dave Adamson is looking forward to having a fresh perspective on the board next season.
"I think Harriet will work very well," Adamson said.
"We haven't had a female on the board for a long, long time.
"We wanted some female input and Harriet looks like the perfect fit."
Elleman was one of three new faces elected to the SIRU board at its annual general meeting, joining Tumut's Mat Chapman and Cootamundra's Andrew Glover.