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‘This is my naked truth’: The Matildas’ nude calendar 24 years on

As Australia get ready to kick off their home World Cup campaign, Katie Smith goes back to a time when life was very different for the women representing the Matildas.

As the Australian Matildas get ready to kick off their home World Cup campaign, Katie Smith goes back to a time when life was very different for the women representing the national side when they weren’t full time professionals selling out stadiums, when money was tight and publicity almost non-existent.

Let’s go back to 1999 - a year out from the Sydney Olympics, when Australian sports teams were desperate to get media coverage and capitalise on a game changing event for the nation. That’s where the Matildas’ nude calendar idea came from - pose naked, gain attention, challenge gender stereotypes, raise funds - but it didn’t end up being that simple.

Katie met up with former Matilda Tracie McGovern, who featured in that now infamous calendar, to take a trip back in time.

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