Netball Victoria is saddened to hear of the passing of Fiona Richardson, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women and the Member for Northcote.
Fiona has been a dear friend to netball, and women’s sport in Victoria. Her passion, advocacy and determination drove the development of the Inner-City Netball Program, a funding program to address the lack of facilities restricting netball participation in the inner city and inner northern suburbs of Melbourne. Whilst saddened to know that Minister Richardson will not see all the courts delivered, we are thankful for her advocacy and determination that will bring them to fruition.
Fiona has long-shared our vision of empowering Women and Girls, knowing that sport was a wonderful vehicle to achieve this. In launching the Victorian Gender Equity Strategy late last year she said, “I believe in the power of sport to explain the importance and benefits of gender equality more effectively than a thousand speeches.”
Her mission to lift Women, to provide a safer, stronger Victoria, is something Netball Victoria is invested in. She asked all Victorians to make a pledge to bring the Gender Equity Policy to life, we remain committed to doing this, with the State Government, for our Members, and now in her honour.
We extend our deepest condolences to Fiona’s family, friends and colleagues.
