Congratulations to Phil Kearns (ON 1984) and Julie Kearns – an article from The Australian 17 April 2017

Tilly Kearns has already achieved considerable sporting success even before we start talking of her goal to play water polo at an Olympic Games.

The teenager has been able to loosen rugby union’s grip on her famous Wallaby father Phil Kearns and get some chlorine on his skin as opposed to Dencorub.

Kearns, who won two World Cups in his 67 Tests for Australia, actually played water polo until the age of 16 before rugby took over.

“I knew it was a great game so I was thrilled when she decided to go in that direction,” Kearns said.

“I was driving home with her one time and tried to give her some advice about water polo and she said ‘Dad, how would you know, you don’t even play it’. So I started playing water polo again.”

He is now a proud member of the Wizards men’s social team.

“It’s a great bunch of old blokes. Our goalie is 71.”

Tilly, 16, is on her own sporting springboard by being named in a 19-player squad for the Stingers, Australia’s women’s water polo team. The squad goes into a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport next week, where 13 will emerge to play several internationals before the July world championships in Hungary.

“The Olympics is the main goal for me whether it’s the next one in Tokyo or the one after in 2024,” she said. “I’ve got enough motivation that if I don’t make this one, I’ll go for the next one.”

She plays in the national water polo league for the Sydney Uni Lions, which boasts four Olym­pians including Rio Stingers member Hannah Buckling.

“Tilly is a very talented player who is only 16. She has great determination,” Buckling said. “She’s only lacking in experience and that’s what she’s going to get in spades this year.

“We only have five from the Rio Olympic squad still continuing in the sport so there’s sweeping change moving across the team and Tilly can be one who benefits from that.”

Tilly counts herself lucky to have her parents supporting her in the background.

“He and mum (Julie) are great for advice but Dad has the experience behind him from playing rugby. He has really helped me on the mental side. He knows when I’m tired or when I’m not playing well, and knows how to bring me out of it.”

Kearns said: “I just want her to love what she’s doing and the way she’s going at the moment she’s on a wonderful trajectory to achieve that goal of being an Olympian.

“My job is make sure she keeps enjoying that journey. I’ve seen kids pushed by parents and fail, and I’ve also seen kids that have done too much, too early, and fail.

“It’s a delicate balance for ­parents.”

Tilly is in Perth for the under-18 club championships with the Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers. Phil is with his second daughter Andie at the under-14 club titles on the Gold Coast.

“We’re doing Easter on either side of the continent,” he said.