Parry didn’t start playing rugby until she was 18 because the opportunities to do so weren’t as readily available when she was younger.<\/p>\n
To see primary school-aged girls tossing the ball around had a profound impact on Parry, as the significance of what she and her teammates achieved at the Rio Olympics hit home.<\/p>\n
“I was like, ‘Wow,'” Parry tells ABC Sport.<\/p>\n
“These girls have this opportunity partly because of what we’ve been able to create around the legacy of Rio.<\/p>\n
“For me, it was special.”<\/p>\n
![\"Shannon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6f3fab589441e7cc540684a2814aaa9f.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Shannon Parry (right) was Australia’s co-captain at the Rio Olympics. (Getty Images\/World Rugby: Dan Mullan)<\/p>\n
August 8 marks the 10th anniversary of Australia’s historic triumph in Rio, which was the first time rugby sevens was contested at an Olympics.<\/p>\n
A victory for women’s sport<\/a><\/p>\n Shannon Parry hails Australia’s Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens as not only a victory for the nation but also women’s sport.<\/p>\n It’s difficult to measure its legacy as this continues to be felt.<\/p>\n For some current Australian players in the sevens and Wallaroos programs, Australia’s Rio gold medal inspired them to play rugby.<\/p>\n Australian sevens co-captain Bella Nasser told ABC Sport earlier this year she’d “never looked at rugby as a female sport until that moment”<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wallaroos star Piper Duck was similarly motivated to take up the game, having previously thought “women weren’t allowed to play”<\/a>.<\/p>\n Australia’s Rio victory inspired many girls to take up rugby. (AP: Themba Hadebe)<\/p>\n Parry is humbled to learn the likes of Nasser and Duck look to Australia’s 2016 team as trailblazers.<\/p>\n “The players coming through now have idols they can look up to,” Parry says.<\/p>\n “To think that 2016 team had a small impact on getting those girls and encouraging them to try rugby, it’s pretty special.”<\/p>\n Developing a world-class program<\/p>\n Australia’s Rio victory didn’t come by chance.<\/p>\n It was the culmination of Rugby Australia’s (RA) astute planning, which began as early as 2012 when the governing body, then known as the Australian Rugby Union, hosted talent identification camps.<\/p>\n Several members of the Rio gold medal-winning squad joined the sevens program following these camps, coming from sports such as rugby league, touch football, athletics and basketball.<\/p>\n Less than four years out from the Rio Olympics, some had never picked up a rugby ball until this time.<\/p>\n Another crucial step towards winning the Olympic gold was RA’s decision to centralise the program in Sydney at the beginning of 2014.<\/p>\n Based at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation in the Northern Beaches suburb of Narrabeen, 21 players took up full-time contracts.<\/p>\n The Australian squad pictured at its Sydney training base. (Reuters: David Gray)<\/p>\n Parry had played for both the Australian sevens team and Wallaroos by this stage but was also holding down a job.<\/p>\n Accepting a one-year deal with virtually no guarantees was a massive leap of faith.<\/p>\n “It was a bit of a shock to most of us, to be honest, because a lot of us were working full-time,” says Parry, who first played for Australia in sevens in 2013.<\/p>\n “I was a full-time teacher, and we were just juggling rugby on the side.<\/p>\n “We had a camp down at Bond University just before Christmas in 2013 and they [RA] said, ‘We’re going to go full-time. Here’s a contract and meet us in Sydney at this address and we’re going to embark on this journey.’<\/p>\n “We were like, ‘OK.'”<\/p>\n Shannon Parry (right) played for both the Australian sevens team and Wallaroos. (Reuters: David Rowland)<\/p>\n Parry was one of only a few players on the full-time contract list who had a background in rugby before playing sevens.<\/p>\n Among those fresh to the game was Emilee Barton (nee Cherry).<\/p>\n As a child living in the south-west Queensland town of Roma, Barton dreamt of playing sport on the international stage.<\/p>\n “Growing up, I played every sport under the sun and loved it,” Barton says.<\/p>\n Barton was a touch football star until rugby entered her orbit in 2012, the same year she made her Australian sevens debut.<\/p>\n Emilee Barton became one of the key players in the Australian squad. (AP: Themba Hadebe)<\/p>\n Becoming a full-time rugby player helped Barton’s career blossom, as she was named the International Rugby Board’s (now World Rugby) Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2014.<\/p>\n “It was empowering to be invested in by Rugby Australia,” Barton says.<\/p>\n “For them to say, ‘We think this can be a world-class program, we think you can win a gold medal at the Olympic Games’ gave a real sense of ownership to our playing group.<\/p>\n “We wanted to show them we did have the ability and work ethic to create a program from the ground up.”<\/p>\n Prior to the establishment of a full-time sevens program, RA made another important call.<\/p>\n Appointing Tim Walsh as head coach in late 2013 would prove to be a master stroke.<\/p>\n ‘Shift of power’<\/p>\n Walsh had played professionally in 15-a-side rugby and represented Australia in sevens before moving into the coaching ranks.<\/p>\n His will to win was evident early in his playing career.<\/p>\n As Australia’s fullback in an under-19 international against New Zealand in 1988, Walsh slotted a field goal from 48 metres out, with just seconds left on the clock, to clinch a 25-23 triumph.<\/p>\n Tim Walsh represented Australia in rugby sevens. (Getty Images: Christopher Lee)<\/p>\n It therefore came as little surprise when Walsh declared he wanted the Australian women’s sevens team to achieve “dominance and success” after he took charge of the program in September 2013.<\/p>\n The task at hand was going to be challenging, however, as the Australians had finished fifth in the inaugural 2012\/13 Women’s Sevens World Series.<\/p>\n They then exited the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens at the quarterfinal stage following a 14-10 defeat to Spain.<\/p>\n In both competitions, New Zealand emerged triumphant.<\/p>\n “Back then, ours was a bit of a nothing program,” Barton admits.<\/p>\n Tim Walsh made a winning debut as Australia’s coach. (Getty Images: Mark Evans)<\/p>\n But progress was made in the 2013\/14 World Series, with Australia marking Walsh’s debut as coach with a 35-27 upset win over New Zealand in the final of the opening tournament in Dubai.<\/p>\n Interestingly, eight members of Australia’s 12-player squad in Dubai would appear at the Rio Olympics, with Parry and Barton among them.<\/p>\n “That early win gave us confidence,” Walsh says.<\/p>\n Another win in S\u00e3o Paulo and two runner-up placings in Guangzhou and Amsterdam saw Australia finish second to New Zealand in the World Series standings.<\/p>\n Australia pictured during the Guangzhou World Series tournament in 2014. (Getty Images: Lintao Zhang)<\/p>\n New Zealand remained the pacesetter the following season but during the penultimate leg of the 2014\/15 World Series in London, Walsh could tell Australia was on the right track.<\/p>\n His squad recorded a 24-5 win over their trans-Tasman counterparts in the semis, followed by a 20-17 defeat of Canada in the final.<\/p>\n Australia’s victory in London was a turning point for the program. (Getty Images: Tony Marshall)<\/p>\n Australia would eventually finish third behind New Zealand and Canada on the World Series standings, but its rivals had been put on notice.<\/p>\n “The momentum shift happened in 2015,” Walsh says.<\/p>\n “We beat New Zealand in the London semifinal. We played really well. Chloe Dalton nailed this kick from the sideline.<\/p>\n “Every attribute of our game was covered. We had kickers, we had re-start reception, we had speed, we had experience, we had ball players, we had X factor.<\/p>\n “That [London] was the shift. From then, we pretty much were the best team from that moment.<\/p>\n “It was the shift of power.”<\/p>\n The team to beat<\/p>\n By the time the 2015\/16 World Series rolled around, Australia’s decision to go full time with its women’s sevens program had been vindicated.<\/p>\n The squad had embraced professionalism and developed a ruthless attitude, which was reflected in the improved results.<\/p>\n “From the outset, some of them were school teachers, radiographers, full-time workers,” Walsh says.<\/p>\n “They gave up their careers to move to Sydney and be paid peanuts to chase a dream, so they had that commitment.<\/p>\n “The ones who didn’t do it were weeded out.<\/p>\n “So you ended up with the best of the best, who had the absolute purpose and focus to go on and achieve something special.”<\/p>\n Parry adds: “Day in, day out it was about winning a gold medal.”<\/p>\n Australia poses with the 2015\/16 World Series trophy. (AP: Rick Rycroft)<\/p>\n With the Rio Olympics on the horizon, Australia won the 2015\/16 World Series on the back of three victories from five tournaments.<\/p>\n Adding to Australia’s growing self-belief was the fact it was undefeated against New Zealand, which would finish second on the standings.<\/p>\n “The team, in that final year, had this belief and we’re in that state of flow that all coaches and teams are looking for,” Walsh says.<\/p>\n “There was nothing that was going to stop them.”<\/p>\n Even a loss to Canada in the final of the concluding World Series leg in France was regarded as nothing more than a hiccup.<\/p>\n “We beat the Kiwis in the semis [14-5] and we came into the final and Canada actually beat us 29-19,” Parry says.<\/p>\n “For us it was a case of, ‘Oh, that’s right, we’ve got to turn up and play our best every game.’<\/p>\n “It wasn’t a reality check, but we knew we’ve got to be able to turn it on when we need to be able to.”<\/p>\n Ellia Green starred for Australia during the triumphant 2015\/2016 campaign. (Getty Images: Warren Little)<\/p>\n By virtue of its World Series victory, Australia was installed as the gold medal favourite in Rio.<\/p>\n Such a mantle comes with pressure and expectation, but Australia was undaunted.<\/p>\n “We didn’t talk about it [favouritism] much,” Barton says.<\/p>\n “We wanted to go into Rio being incredibly humble and painting the narrative that the Kiwis were heavy favourites as well, especially with a much more experienced team than what we had.<\/p>\n “We obviously did analysis on other teams, but it was always looking at ourselves internally and worrying about what we could do.”<\/p>\n Favouritism sat comfortably with Walsh.<\/p>\n “We addressed that, going in as number one and favourites, and we owned it,” he says.<\/p>\n Olympic campaign begins<\/p>\n The Olympic competition wasn’t the first time the Australian squad had been to Rio.<\/p>\n Australia’s 2016 Olympic squad<\/p>\n Shannon Parry (co-captain)<\/p>\n Sharni Smale (nee Williams, co-captain)<\/p>\n Nicole Beck<\/p>\n Emilee Barton (nee Cherry)<\/p>\n Chloe Dalton<\/p>\n Gemma Etheridge<\/p>\n Ellia Green<\/p>\n Evania Isaako (nee Pelite)<\/p>\n Alicia Lucas (nee Quirk)<\/p>\n Emma Verran (nee Tonegato)<\/p>\n Amy Turner<\/p>\n Charlotte Caslick<\/p>\n In 2015, Walsh and his players visited the site where rugby sevens would make its Games debut.<\/p>\n The temporary grandstands at what would become known as Deodoro Stadium hadn’t been erected, but the players got the chance to experience the surrounds well in advance of the Olympics.<\/p>\n “Walshy has his ways of getting people visualising,” says Parry, who would share the captaincy with Sharni Smale [nee Williams] in Rio.<\/p>\n “So we all took our shoes off and lay on the ground and looked at the sky.<\/p>\n “He said, ‘We’re going to win the Olympic gold medal here.'”<\/p>\n Fast forward to the Games themselves, and Australia found itself alongside Fiji, United States and Colombia in Group A.<\/p>\n Dominant wins over Colombia (53-0) and Fiji (36-0) meant Australia secured top spot in the group ahead of its final match against the US, which ended in a 12-12 draw.<\/p>\n The clash with the Americans had no bearing on Australia’s passage to the quarterfinals but it provided the backdrop to an iconic moment.<\/p>\n Charlotte Caslick’s breathtaking cover tackle on a flying Victoria Folayan<\/a> would be remembered for years to come.<\/p>\n “You could see this fluorescent yellow jersey come across the field and it was Charlotte,” Walsh recalls.<\/p>\n “Sixty kilos, running like the Terminator, and then she just absolutely belted her [Folayan] with a textbook tackle.<\/p>\n “She jumped to her feet, before Victoria even took a breath, and looked down and gave her a look of, ‘Gotcha.’<\/p>\n Charlotte Caslick’s tackle on Victoria Folayan became an iconic moment. (Getty Images\/World Rugby: Dan Mullan)<\/p>\n “She then flicked a ponytail over the back of her head and walked off.<\/p>\n “I just remember vividly being on the sideline looking at that and going, ‘Oh my God.’<\/p>\n “It just changed the perception of rugby forever.”<\/p>\n Caslick would figure prominently in the knockout stages, with Australia comfortably advancing to the final.<\/p>\n Light work was made of Spain in the quarterfinals via a 24-0 win, before Canada was swept aside 17-5 in the semis.<\/p>\n Ellia Green (left) was among Australia’s try scorers in the quarterfinal win over Spain. (Getty Images: David Rogers)<\/p>\n Meanwhile, New Zealand, unbeaten in group play, progressed to the gold medal match following victories over the US (5-0) and Great Britain (25-7).<\/p>\n Having failed to defeat Australia since February 2015, New Zealand wasn’t expected to be in an antagonising mood as it prepared for the final.<\/p>\n New Zealand coach Sean Horan had other ideas.<\/p>\n ‘Extra motivation’<\/p>\n Following the semifinal win over Great Britain, Horan was interviewed on New Zealand TV.<\/p>\n When asked about facing Australia in the final, he questioned the toughness of the World Series champions.<\/p>\n “The Australians don’t like pressure, they don’t like the physical side,’ Horan proclaimed.<\/p>\n New Zealand coach Sean Horan provided Australia with additional motivation. (Getty Images: Chris Graythen)<\/p>\n The comment didn’t go unnoticed among Australian reporters at Deodoro Stadium, while it quickly lit up social media.<\/p>\n Nor did it escape the attention of Walsh.<\/p>\n “We wrote it up on the board,” Walsh says with a wry chuckle.<\/p>\n “We did use that as some extra motivation.”<\/p>\n While digesting Horan’s taunt was a late addition to Australia’s preparations, there was a ritual the players always observed moments before running onto the field.<\/p>\n “Our song for the campaign was Chicken Fried, by Zac Brown Band,” Parry explains.<\/p>\n “That was sort of our gee-up song to get us ready. It was the song we played the whole year.<\/p>\n “Whenever that song came on it was time to go, time for action.”<\/p>\n But a delay to the start of the final meant there was time for the song to be played more than usual.<\/p>\n “We were like, ‘OK, just play the song again,’ so we played it again,” Parry says.<\/p>\n “Our strength and conditioning coach Craig Twentyman was banging on the demountable walls inside the dressing room and they were shaking.<\/p>\n “It was literally like we were having a rave in there. People would have been saying, ‘What is going on in there?’<\/p>\n “Everyone was singing and dancing. The physio and doctor were in there. It was going off.<\/p>\n “We were having our own little rave before going out. It was crazy.”<\/p>\n Australia was in a relaxed state once it took the field for the final. (Getty Images: David Rogers)<\/p>\n Walsh fondly remembers the moment, as passers-by mistakenly thought the Australians were celebrating.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The team was dancing around, and the lights were flicking on and off,” Walsh says.<\/p>\n “A couple of [Olympic] volunteers and logistical staff were walking past and knocked on the door and said, ‘Congratulations, great work.’<\/p>\n “We replied, ‘We haven’t even played yet.’<\/p>\n “It was a unique way of preparing for a brutal sport.”<\/p>\n Tight first half<\/p>\n Relaxed, yet focused, Australia ran onto the pitch alongside New Zealand, knowing history was about to be made.<\/p>\n As a healthy gathering of Australian and New Zealand fans watched from the stands under the Rio night sky, Parry and her teammates received the kick-off but found themselves trailing on the scoreboard midway through the first half.<\/p>\n A crooked line-out throw 5 metres from Australia’s goal line gave New Zealand possession, which it converted into points through Kayla McAlister’s opening try on the left edge.<\/p>\n “They got the hop on us early,” Parry says.<\/p>\n “That got rid of any nervousness and we said to each other, ‘OK, now it’s time to play footy.'”<\/p>\n Emma Verran scored Australia’s first try in the final. (Getty Images: David Rogers)<\/p>\n Play footy they did, with the Australians levelling scores when Emma Verran (nee Tonegato) touched down in the right corner.<\/p>\n New Zealand supporters would later dispute the legitimacy of Verran’s grounding of the ball, but referee Alhambra Nievas and in-goal judge Sakurako Kawasaki awarded the try.<\/p>\n It appeared the 5-5 scoreline would remain through to half-time, but an infringement from New Zealand great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (nee Woodman) inside the final 10 seconds of the term gave Australia another opportunity.<\/p>\n Evania Isaako’s try put Australia ahead 10-5 at half-time. (AP: Themba Hadebe)<\/p>\n Woodman-Wickliffe was shown a yellow card, leaving New Zealand with just six players for two minutes.<\/p>\n Australia capitalised on the numerical advantage by creating an overlap for Evania Isaako (nee Pelite) to cross for a try out wide and establish a 10-5 lead at the break.<\/p>\n “I vividly remember what Walshy said at half-time,” Parry remembers.<\/p>\n “He said, ‘Look over there. There’s a gold medal hanging off that crossbar. You’ve just got to get it.'”<\/p>\n ‘We’re not losing this’<\/p>\n Defending a five-point lead, Barton was confident Australia’s superior conditioning would shine through in the second half.<\/p>\n “I think one of our strengths was our fitness and being able to compete for the whole game,” Barton says.<\/p>\n Walsh knew Australia had the psychological edge, having noted the “steely” look in the eyes of the players.<\/p>\n “I was like, ‘We’re not losing this,'” he says.<\/p>\n Australia’s Alicia Lucas (right) tackles New Zealand opponent Gayle Broughton. (AP: Zsolt Czegledi)<\/p>\n Australia carried its momentum into the second half and appeared to put the result beyond doubt with back-to-back tries scored by Ellia Green and Caslick.<\/p>\n Both were converted by Chloe Dalton and with less than 4 minutes to play, Australia held a commanding 24-5 lead.<\/p>\n New Zealand cut the margin back through McAlister’s second try, but it was a case of too little, too late.<\/p>\n With the full-time siren having already sounded, Woodman-Wickliffe dotted down under the posts for another consolation try, leaving Australia to rejoice following a 24-17 victory.<\/p>\n Australia celebrated once the full-time whistle had rung out. (AP: Themba Hadebe)<\/p>\n “I’d come off the field with maybe 3 minutes to go,” Parry says.<\/p>\n “I remember when there was 2 minutes to go, it felt like the longest 2 minutes standing on the sideline.<\/p>\n Aussies win sevens gold in Rio<\/a><\/p>\n Australia creates history with a 24-17 victory over New Zealand in the first Olympic rugby sevens final.<\/p>\n “It was then literally 30 seconds, 20 seconds, and it was like, ‘Oh my God, we’ve won this. This is unbelievable.’<\/p>\n “We were just so ecstatic. Everything had come down to that one game, really.<\/p>\n “Two and a half years of footy for one game.”<\/p>\n Walsh wasn’t prepared to celebrate until referee Nievas had blown the full-time whistle.<\/p>\n “I think there were 10 seconds on the clock and [Australia manager] Scotty Bowen was next to me,” Walsh says.<\/p>\n “He was like, ‘Mate, we’ve done it,’ and I said, ‘No we haven’t. Wait until the whistle goes. Something could happen.'”<\/p>\n New Zealand felt the emotional pain of defeat at full-time. (AP: Themba Hadebe)<\/p>\n Even the most diehard Australian supporter couldn’t help but feel for the New Zealand players, who were inconsolable.<\/p>\n The sight of a collapsed Woodman-Wickliffe sobbing on the ground remains an enduring memory.<\/p>\n Emilee Barton (centre) enjoys the spoils of victory with Alicia Lucas (left) and Ellia Green.\u00a0 (Reuters: Geoff Burke)<\/p>\n Given the rivalry between the two nations, Barton feels it was fitting they shared the historic moment.<\/p>\n “I guess it was poetic to meet them in the first Olympic final,” Barton says.<\/p>\n “To win it was incredible.”<\/p>\n The Rio legacy<\/p>\n Walsh admits he gets “goosebumps” when reflecting on the impact Australia’s win in Rio had on women’s rugby.<\/p>\n Not only did the gold medal spark massive growth in participation numbers in sevens and 15-a-side rugby, but it also helped changed the perception of women’s contact sports.<\/p>\n “One thing that really stuck with me at the time was my first son was three or four years old,” Walsh says.<\/p>\n “We were walking through Bondi Junction where there was a store with all these TVs.<\/p>\n “I stopped and was watching a rugby league game and my son asked, ‘Are you watching the girls play?’ and I said, ‘No, I’m watching the boys.’<\/p>\n “He looked at me and said, ‘Do boys play rugby too?’<\/p>\n “It was a real light-bulb moment.”<\/p>\n Australia is the current world champion in women’s sevens. (Reuters: Catherine Steenkeste)<\/p>\n Walsh remains a key figure in women’s rugby, having recently coached Australia to the sevens World Championship in the concluding act of his second stint in the role<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/07c5e2f0cd5daafe39969354304ebe00.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c25a43fba91642eb096e5cab64672ed2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Shannon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7204ff1055ff33905400448b7d6c9ea2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Emilee](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/95b12dbcecfd4fef036761d3f48ce13a.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/02994b6764cfc3476722d14e86f3fa30.jpeg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/d16fb953456edb4f21f64515de1a672a.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4ca5a46df55adba7a642a1e7bee8d662.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australia's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cdfcc9dedc3cc0d66cb944c3d3c33ced.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ellia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c3d003a41d9f6ee7cd961e29c018313e.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Victoria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c019c87455b7036c1bb145f351115e22.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Ellia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/017a7475bda35d0aeb8280becc3942f9.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Sean](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/b4fc11457a6cadd631c916c1abe8a2a4.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0ce002ed76ef40cd51b4f3ea84fbc01c.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Emma](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ee1b05adec0425ab48f9cf6a577d4185.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australia's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/75f87fb6b85d6205b813ae7a4913d7e7.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/eb6d1dbce95fbf38be6006cd42d012a9.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5c82843e213fad1a42e120d52f701daa.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/b279b4be4a8690af3688322b2f6d1515.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/29c3b1781514758e5f10114ae911f4d4.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/07d6f608c83b729dd04cb120c979e573.jpeg\")
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![\"Shannon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4b3dd90f3d5c1d9754d86734672c60b7.jpeg\")
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