Rugby unites people. Whether on or off the field, it brings people together.
Down at Kalamunda, rugby does more than just bring people together – it puts families side-by-side on the field.
Each week, the Heke cousins head to Hartfield Reserve to represent their club, whether on the field in the Fortescue Women’s Premier Grade or on the sidelines, as Managers, Coaches and Club Members. They champion each other, support each other, and keep their family’s rugby spirit alive.
One of these cousins is Hera-Barb Malcolm-Heke, a powerhouse Hooker for not just Kalamunda, but the Western Force and Wallaroos, too. She values the opportunity to play alongside her family, growing and learning together, and watching each other succeed.
“Having my family involved in rugby is a special and powerful feeling,” she said. “Being able to watch each other grow and thrive in the game whilst continuing to build connections with each other is an exciting and heartwarming feeling.”
For Hera-Barb and her family, rugby has always played a big role in their lives. Kalamunda isn’t the first club to see a flock of Hekes heading down week-in and week-out, taking to the field together – but it is the first time it’s been the girls taking to the field, instead.
“Rugby is a very big part of our life. Every weekend [growing up] was spent at our club, Huria [Rugby Club], in New Zealand watching my dad, uncles and cousins play.
“As a young girl I was the cheerleader that got dragged to all her brothers' tournaments and games. Never did I think the roles would be reversed.”
Taking to the field alongside Hera-Barb is Mahiti, the team captain, and Amelia, with Katana and Kahu on the sidelines, having played in previous seasons for the club.
“There have been many battles on the field that have brought us closer together,” Hera-Barb shared, when asked how being part of the same club has strengthened their bond.
“You never want to see your family down so we will always make sure to protect each other and pick each other up, as well as our teammates. But also, being able to laugh and just enjoy the moments together, I feel like it just makes us even tighter.”
And while their bond is something special, the Heke family is also part of something bigger - a growing wave of women changing the game.
What was once a sideline role has transformed into something much more. The field is no longer just for the brothers, dads, and uncles; it’s for the sisters, daughters, and cousins too. The Hekes represent a shift in culture, where women are no longer just watching rugby, but leading it.
Their presence, both as athletes and role models, is a reflection of how far women’s rugby has come in WA, and how much further it can go when women support each other.
“Women’s rugby in WA has grown to be an empowering sport,” Hera-Barb said. “Yes, it is competitive, but teams still continue to build each other up because we want to see our game grow. That only happens if more women join, and I feel like celebrating each other’s success helps ladies want to play, and celebrating with your family next to you is even better.”
The Hekes might be one family, but their story is one shared by many - women stepping into the spotlight, backed by community, culture, and connection. From cheering on the sidelines as girls to leading from the front as players and captains, they embody what it means to grow the game from the inside out.
At Kalamunda and across Western Australia, women like the Hekes are shaping not just the future of rugby, but its spirit, one where competition and care go hand in hand, and where success is sweeter when it’s shared.
Because in the end, it’s not just about scoring tries or winning games. It’s about the moments spent shoulder-to-shoulder with your teammates building something bigger than yourself.
Women in Rugby Round takes place this weekend, with all Junior Girls and Senior Women’s teams gathering at McGillivray Oval for a celebration of the women’s game. The Hekes' Kalamunda Kweenz will be taking to the field against Wests Scarborough, with kick off set for 3:30PM.
