The tagline for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is ‘World Ready’. For Sarah Alexander, a member of the Australian canoe polo team, joining the program as a student at Toorak College sparked her love for a sport that has launched her onto the world stage.

Together with her 18-year-old daughter Matilda, Sarah competed in the 2024 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in China at the end of October, an event she’ll long remember.

It’s quite a way from first dipping her toe into flat-water paddling on the Murray during her Duke of Ed experience through school. There had been the possibility the naturally gifted student might make a name for herself in netball or basketball – other sports at which she excelled – but canoe polo remained No.1.

Beginning studies at Monash University, Sarah made a beeline to sign up for the bushwalking and canoe clubs. In 1998 she became a member of the university’s canoe team, a position that raised her profile in the sport and ultimately gained her a place in the 2002 Australian canoe polo team, which came third in that year’s world championships in Germany.

In 2004, Sarah had her first child. Still maintaining an interest in canoe polo, her involvement was now from the sidelines. After the birth of three more children, she became resigned to the fact she’d never come back to the sport; her previous coach had two children and hadn’t returned to paddling, so Sarah thought the case would be the same for her.

Fast-forward to the end of lockdown in 2020, and Sarah switched her mindset, telling herself she could either stay passive or get up and do something. She began coaching again, increasing her connection with the sport. She and Matilda became members of Fairfield Canoe Club, practising on the Yarra River. When Matilda travelled to New Zealand last year as part of Australia’s under-18 women’s team, her coach asked Sarah if she’d consider playing the sport again. She took up the offer, and in October returned to the world championships after a 22-year hiatus.

She entered the competition in China without high expectations, and there were some thrilling contests throughout the event. Finishing in 14th, Sarah’s team fought hard, taking out a decisive 13-1 win against the host country, defeating Hong Kong 7-1, and otherwise keeping competitors’ scores low and close to their own. Their result automatically qualified them to compete at the next world championships.

Matilda and her team also asserted themselves to finish in 7th place – a fabulous outcome and something she’ll be celebrating with classmates when she returns to her studies at the Victorian College of the Arts. Their highlights included smashing wins against China 23-0 and Thailand 15-0.

With the next canoe polo world championships to be held in Duisburg in 2026, Sarah looks forward to accompanying Matilda to the country where her experience of the competition began. With two more years to get ready, the pair have Germany firmly in their sights.

DANIELLE DAVEY