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Sarah Strong-Law - 26 July 210

Sarah Strong-Law is probably best known as Barrelhouse Bessy – founder of the Adelaide Roller Derby League and member of the Wild Hearses team. She grew up on a cattle ranch in rural Texas listening to her grandpa play saxophone in a Texas Swing Bang and says she will often be seen in cowgirl boots and one of her well loved hats. Sarah studied Communications and Human Relations at the University of Texas in Austin (sister city to Adelaide) because she says, “I strongly believe in the power of human interaction and its ability to motivate positive change within local communities.” After discovering she didn’t enjoy mainstream large scale music events working in Operations for House of Blues concerts across Colorado, Sarah went on to manage the Shady Grove - a restaurant and live music venue in Austin Texas which strives to be a supporter of Keeping Austin Weird through supporting local community and local business. While working with Shady Grove, she was able to work on many charity events including a city wide Christmas parade to raise funds for the Blue Santa project and a 5K race to raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Texas. These experiences influence the organisation strategies and style of events in the Adelaide Roller Derby world. She feels strongly about the power of local communities and getting people to be involved in a community and therefore decided to start a new community: ROLLER DERBY! It began in early 2007, through grass roots efforts to introduce the sport of All Female Flat Track Roller Derby. The information night brought together about 25 ladies who became founding members. The organisation is skater owned, skater run, and volunteer based where each member is an equal owner in the business. Each member is placed on a committee and must participate in the community by jumping on board with the extremely "DIY" attitude and supporting local business and activities. In just three years, Adelaide Roller Derby has surpassed all original goals of the three year plan: the League is financially sustainable, has over 100 active members, and attracts more than 2000 spectators to every event. Roller Derby has indeed become part of the cultural fabric of Adelaide and created a rewarding and lasting experience for all the women involved. Sarah immigrated to Adelaide in 2006 with her partner as Skilled Immigrants both arriving to no job, no friends, no vehicles, and no house to live in. She is currently working at Radio Adelaide because she believes in the importance of Community Media and the ability it has to make a difference in the lives of many people. She says working with the volunteers (hundreds of them ranging in age from 16- 90 years old) is the highlight of her job and that she learns something new from these amazing people every day. Sarah and her partner have bought 100 acres of protected heritage land on Kangaroo Island where they are building a home, with their own hands from the group up, using local stone on the land, powered by solar, and completely supplied by rainwater. A large garden and chickens will complete the package. Sarah says: “I believe that there are revolutions waiting to be discovered and that small local revolutions are the key to positive global change. (Yes, totally idealistic!) I believe that we should all spend more time outside and more time with other humans in face to face interactions so turning off the TV and tuning into your social networks is important!!”
For more on Adelaide Roller Derby www.adelaiderollerderby.com and more on Radio Adelaide www.radio.adelaide.edu.au

Created: 28/07/2010 | Last Updated: 28/07/2010

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