Australian Sports Commission Chair John Wylie's appeal to corporate leaders to back women's sport "is paying more dividends with Fortescue Metals getting behind the Hockeyroos," according to Nicole Jeffery of THE AUSTRALIAN. Fortescue has been the "major sponsor" of the Australian men’s team, the Kookaburras, since just before the 2012 Olympics and will announce "a three-year extension to that partnership next week." At the same time, the mining company has been "considering extending support to the national women’s team." The Hockeyroos "already have a major sponsor in Ausdrill but Fortescue has agreed to come on board as a secondary sponsor on a one-year deal with a view to a longer commitment." Under the agreement, the Fortescue-supported national indigenous program that does outreach to remote communities in the Pilbara in Western Australia "will also be extended to include female players." Hockey Australia CEO Cam Vale said, "The strength of the relationship lies in the fact that it is about more than simply putting logos on uniforms. It's about making a difference, whether that's in company offices, out in remote communities in the Pilbara, or on the hockey pitch." The Fortescue logo "will go on the skirts of the national team players" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/8).
