The winners for the 2021 Community Awards have been announced with a number of people and organisations recognised for the phenomenal commitment to netball and their continued work in the sport. Many have offered up countless hours to ensure the seamless out roll of netball in the community.
It has been another challenging year filled with obstacles and COVID-19 enforced hurdles but that has not hindered the spirit of our wonderful winners. We are incredibly proud and want to showcase the amazing work of our Victorian netball community.
Winners from the eight categories will receive a prize package valued at $500. The lucky winners who receive the WorkSafe Safety Initiative Award will receive $2,000 (each) to update facilities at their own netball club.
Volunteer of the Year Award – Origin
Tamara Kennedy – Moe & District NA
Tamara has been an integral member of the Moe & District Netball Association for over a decade. A committed volunteer Tamara takes everything in her stride to ensure that the association is ahead of the game and compliant with all of the COVID requirements. In fact, she was the first one to implement protocols.
Playing on 45-year-old courts, Tamara went to work to try and give the place a face lift. Tamara was successful helping the association secure 10 new courts and a pavilion highlighting her initiative and drive. The accolades don’t stop there for Tamara, as she also secured the Association Championships that ran smoothly this year.
Teacher of the Year – Deakin University
Timothy Lumsden – Brunswick North Primary School
Forced to resort to online teaching for a second year in a row Brunswick North Primary School’s very own Timothy Lumsden got creative when it came to delivering his netball content. Timothy is always looking to enhance his knowledge of netball by engaging Netball Victoria staff members and also trying to increase netballs exposure, not only to the students where he works but so too surrounding schools.
His passion is infectious with his desire to one day create his own small netball competition, an exciting goal. Throughout COVID, Timothy took the initiative to book and deliver his own teacher delivered program to equip people with the necessary netball knowledge.
NetSetGO Centre of the Year
Lara NC
With COVID-19 impacting on the capacity of people to play organised sport Bridie went above and beyond to get children involved in NetSetGO at Lara by including more initiatives to draw people in. Ideas such as bring a friend day and player profiles helped to increase the number of participants while the concept of inviting older juniors to mix with the youngsters created a sense of harmony and fostered friendships in the netball community.
As a credit to Bridie’s hard work, Lara NetSetGO has seen an influx of players next year with 40 participants already signed up and an increase of teams in Under 11s. The NetSetGo program is also helping to facilitate the development of junior coaches by educating them.
Inclusive community of the Year – RACV
Melbourne University Lightning
Melbourne University Lighting have showcased their commitment to making a more inclusive netball environment with the vision to build stronger more resilient and equitable communities through their Pride Round initiatives. Lindy Murphy has been an influential figure throughout this period, working in overdrive with Netball Victoria to facilitate a Pride Round in the Victorian Netball League. The round often involves rainbow-coloured bibs while the coach, spectators and bench officials dress-code follow the same theme. Hair ribbons are also supplied for opponents to join the celebration.
This is just one avenue Melbourne University Lightning and Lindy Murphy take with the club signing the “Club Pledge of Pride” while also working with the university to support their philosophies and initiatives.
Coach of the Year – Jetport
Shaylah House – Ovens & Murray League – Wodonga Raiders NC
There is no denying the commitment and dedication of Shaylah House who has been the coach of the 17/Under side for the past three years. With her work, the Wodonga Raiders side were able to make a splash immediately quickly becoming the league favourites, displaying not only skill, but a cohesiveness and sense of belief that had been instilled and nurtured over the two pandemic seasons.
Shaylah has made it her job to ensure the players are filled with a positive mindset by providing a consistent environment for the players to develop their skills. Built and fostered leadership within the team, which promoted peer accountability, which was important whilst navigating the logistics of remote training sessions and keeping players engaged. She also implemented regular Zoom trainings to encourage participants to work together.
Umpire of the Year – WorkSafe
Anita Hill – Mornington Peninsula Nepean FNL & Nepean NA
Umpiring and umpire development has always been at the forefront of Anita’s mind with the Mornington Peninsula representative focusing on ways to enhance their skillset. Anita has spent countless hours to get these programs and pathways up and running while also supporting the development of others around her. She took things on herself to ensure the seamless roll out of games.
Being short of badged umpires to facilitate and mentor games – Anita attended games at both venues in Tootgarook & Rosebud to assist. She also continued to communicate to her broader community seeking further assistance to guarantee success. Anita also highlighted her hard work and netball smarts to receive a grant for $5000 which was utilised to develop and mentor umpires so they could reach A and B grade level coaching.
Association of the Year – Flight Centre
Albury NA
Albury Netball Association embodies what it means to be a netball association fostering the development of players and umpires through their various programs. It offers a safe environment for all to be involved in and ensures accessibility for all players to participate in right from NetSetGO to U/17. They have steadily increased the numbers of teams and players across the association thanks to their initiatives.
Not only is it a place for athletes to develop but so too for umpires through the mentoring program which provides an avenue for umpires to be badged as well junior umpires for our Saturday morning competition. Given the current COVID-19 obstacles, Albury resorted to ZOOM to provide ways to stay connected and build that sense of family within the netball community.
WorkSafe initiative of the Year – WorkSafe
Carngham Linton FNC AND Lucknow FNC
Both Carngham Linton Football Netball Club and Lucknow Football Netball Club were awarded the Worksafe initiative of the Year for their efforts to make their space a safe netball facility. Carngham boasted new facilities this year – vastly different to the shed they once used to provide shelter. The establishment of female friendly changerooms was a huge hit with players no longer forced to use the football changerooms but instead given an avenue to safely get changed.
This was just one of the many changes they made to create a safer environment for players, spectators and officials alike. To ensure that netball could continue to happen, Carngham Linton Football Netball Club pressure cleaned their courts to get them up to standard. Another key aspect that they ticked off was the completion of their first aid room. This enabled players to feel safe and relaxed while they received the appropriate treatment or strapping for game day.
Lucknow got the nod, credit to the procedures they put in place regarding Codes of Conduct and the unveiling of their new facilities. The fresh asphalt enabled players to take the court in a safe manner to reduce the chance of slipping and injury which was imperative to keep the club going.
The new courts were fenced to provide a safe space for the players to enjoy their netball while spectators could also watch, but from a safe distance. In relation to COVID QR codes were created and hand sanitiser stations to ensure everyone could adhere to the necessary requirements.
