This month we have not one, but TWO, amazing winners of WARDian of the Month.  For the first ever time in WARD history, we had a dead tie and decided we'd celebrate both members instead of creating a tie-breaker situation.  We're excited to announce our winners: referee extraordinaire, Frandom Violence, and the fierce blocker who will always catch you when you think you're free of the pack, Tiny!

How long have you been involved in roller derby, and how did you first hear about the sport?
Fran : I started level one in 2015.  I read an article in a magazine about the author reconnecting with their childhood hobbies as an adult.  I loved roller skating as a kid, so I searched where to skate as an adult and ended up finding roller derby.  I started as a referee in 2016 when my knees decided playing was no longer a good idea.

Tiny : I have been involved with derby for just over 10 years. This is the significance with my derby number – 1535. When I started bouting my son was 1, my daughter 5 and I was 35! I first went and watched a bout out at Midvale Speed Dome with my friend Snappa Bones. I knew I could skate but I wasn’t sure if the contact aspect was for me. Snappa joined first and within weeks had convinced me to join up too.

When you're not at derby training, what could we find you doing on a normal day?
Fran : You'll find me at work as an application support specialist.  I take care of over 150 different applications including the servers and databases that they're stored on.  For non-derby exercise, I do Pilates and walk my gorgeous Labaro-dog.  I also like to get my inner Grandma on by knitting and cross-stitching, usually while watching terrible Bravo TV reality shows.

Tiny : Running around like a headless chook! I work as a Receptionist for Enhance Physiotherapy and work out of the Applecross and Thornlie clinics. With that and school runs, the gym, walking my dog, derby and kids sport I am usually on the go all day every day.

How did you come up with your derby name?
Fran : Both of my derby names came courtesy of work colleagues.  In a former company, I said "That's a bit random" and the reply was "Don't you mean FRANdom?" and Frandom Violence grew from there.  Fran Demic came from my impeccable timing in my current job - we went into our first lockdown just after I started there.

Tiny : My full name is Tiny Dancer. It’s partly because I love Elton John and partly because I competed in Artistic Dance in roller skating when I was much younger. And I’m short!

What's an interesting thing about you that's NOT roller derby related?
Fran : In the days leading up to Christmas I complete "Legless Lego" where I review cheap wine and work my way through a Star Wars Lego advent calendar for the amusement of my friends and family.  May your wine not be "Med Red'!

Tiny : My best friend and I share in sponsoring a Cambodian child called Seimei. We have sponsored her for about 12 years now and put her through school and she is now studying English Literature at Uni. We flew over to Phnom Penh and met her and her family 5 years ago. Changed my life!

What is a roller derby goal you are working towards right now?
Fran : I will be Co-Tournament Head Ref for the annual state event in September this year, which will be both challenging and awesome in equal measures.

Tiny : I want to step out of my comfort zone a bit and try pivoting. My brain isn’t a great multitasker so I have avoided it up until now but I really do want to give it a crack. I can’t just brace forever! Or can I????

Tell us about a tough moment you've overcome in derby, or when you've played a hard game in which you've accomplished some small goals.
Fran : Being rostered as the Head Referee for a game on the third and final day of TGSS 2018 was anxiety inducing to say the least.  There were many challenges like working with a mostly new-to-me crew, whistle bleed from the other games and physical and mental exhaustion.  I took the game one jam a at time and I had a blast.  It's still one of my proudest moments.

Tiny : Recently at TGSS I fouled out of the first game we played. I hadn’t fouled out of a game in years so it really made me feel like I had let my team down. Thankfully we had another game the next day so I just had to brush it off and start fresh for game 2.

Who do you nominate as our next WARDian of the Month?  
Fran : I'm absolutely chuffed to be sharing this month's award with the amazing Tiny!  Hades - for her hard work in preparing the travel team for their first tournament in a long time;  Subz - for her teamwork and for often making me break my "ref-ting face" and Frankie for all the effort she puts in as a non-skating official.

Tiny : Brawla. She is such a quiet achiever. She hits like a truck and it’s so fun to be out on track with her. She has also helped out so much with coaching or if other league mates need help or a session swap. I am so thankful for her and really appreciate everything she does to help us at WARD.

Photo credits to Matthew Boggs, Pants Eye View & Sparkle.  Photo credit unknown for No Pack Fran.