There are many First Nations peoples within the netball community across the state who are creating and inspiring a lifelong love of netball by ensuring safe and welcoming environments at all levels of the sport.
From improving education and awareness of First Nations history at grassroots level, to representing their cultures on the international stage, there are many great stories of First Nations peoples making change.
This NAIDOC Week, we’re celebrating some of those in our netball community who work tirelessly to grow and support First Nations participation:
Lee Bevan-Woodley – Proud Kija woman
Member of Netball Victoria’s First Nations Advisory Group, supported by RACV
Proud Kija woman Lee Bevan-Woodley has reignited her love of netball. Now a successful coach at Parkville, her story began in Broome, Western Australia.
As a talented junior player, Lee travelled throughout the Kimberley and Pilbara to attend the North-West Association Championships – often balancing her studies with her love for the game.
She progressed through the pathway, regularly travelling away to trial, and eventually moved to a boarding school in Perth where she played at the Perth Netball Association.
In 2011 Lee moved with her parents to Melbourne where she achieved a netball scholarship at Maribyrnong Secondary College, but later stepped away from the sport.
It wasn’t until 2021 that a friend asked Lee if she could run a training session, which turned into her taking a whole team on as coach. She went on to win the premiership as a debut coach for the Point Cook Central Sharks at Hoppers Crossing.
“Every time I pass the courts, it’s a humbling reminder to where it all started and how far I’ve come in sharing this great game,” Lee said.
She then coached her first representative side – the 15&Under development team for Wyndham Netball Association.
As she progressed through the pathway, an umpire supervisor noted her nurturing style of coaching and recommended she apply to Parkville Netball Association, where she was selected as a representative coach – a goal which Lee didn’t expect to achieve for a number of years.
“Sue really gave me confidence and her continuous support and encouragement is something I continue to lean on,” Lee said.
Lee has now wrapped up coaching at Parkville for her second year, earning runners up honours at Netball Victoria’s Association Championships on both occasions, while also coaching for Elmer at the State Titles and at the Western Talent Academy.
“As a proud western suburbs girl, being able to coach and develop girls of the Central West region and watch them grow and move through the pathways is something that motivates me to continue my coaching.”
Lee is committed to creating a safe space for young people in netball, with the philosophy of truly knowing the person before coaching the player.
“Building a relationship through trust and understanding allows players to use netball as a safe place to develop and excel as players and people,” she said.
Often hard on herself, Lee has reflected on her huge achievements and wants to show other young First Nations players and coaches that they can do it too.
“We do deserve to be in these places and coaching at these levels. I’d like to see more of my mob in these positions and have the opportunity to coach some talented Blackfullas.”
Lee finds inspiration from her sister Bonez’s hard work in netball and in life.
“Without her love and support, I wouldn’t be able to have these achievements and coach to my full potential week in and week out.”
Tracey Stephens – Proud Kurnai woman
Longwarry Football Netball Club
Proud Kurnai woman Tracey Stephens is making change at grassroots level. This year as a member of Longwarry Football Netball Club, Tracey ensured they were providing strong education in the leadup to their Indigenous Round.
“I want people to support Indigenous Round, not just because we get new jumpers, footballs, netballs and bibs. I want people to learn the right history of our local story at Longwarry,” Tracey said.
The club responded, and at their Thursday night training before NAIDOC Week they educated their players, coaches and members through a video of two local Elders. The video shared their story of growing up on Jackson’s Track on Gunaikurnai Country and the importance of cultural safety.
Longwarry FNC also invited the artist of their Indigenous jumpers – Bernie Wells, proud Kungarakan man – to explain the story behind his design and its significance to the community.
After the presentations, Tracey organised trivia with questions around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and communities as a way of educating club members, and sharing the significance of Gunaikurnai Country.
“Hopefully it is a conversation starter that enables people to ask questions in a safe environment to help in better understanding Aboriginal culture,” Tracey said.
On the Saturday game day, while playing the didgeridoo, Steven Edwards-Hayes led the club’s Indigenous players out and around a hand-painted Aboriginal flag, which was painted by committee member Leigh Stanfield. Local Kurnai Elders then performed a smoking ceremony where players could cleanse before a great clash against Lang Lang.
Tracey is part of Netball Victoria’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group, supported by RACV, and we’re thankful for Tracey’s input and influence into our organisation. Tracey continues to provide insight into the true significance of everything we do, how we can better educate our members, and the impact we have on First Nations peoples in Victoria.
Tully Bethune – Proud Wiradjuri woman
Inaugural Black Swans Australian First Nations team
Proud Wiradjuri woman Tully Bethune started netball at the age of 13 in her hometown of Birregurra in Victoria’s south-west. The talented youngster quickly traded her ballet shoes for a netball bib after suddenly falling in love with the game.
She soon caught the eyes of talent identifiers and joined Victorian Netball League (VNL) club the Geelong Cougars when she was 14 years old, debuting in the 19/U side in 2021 when she was only 15.
She went on to make the 17/U Victorian state team, however missed out in 2024 when trialling for the 19/U side, so she made the decision to import to the Northern Territory where she was not only selected for the National Netball Championships, but was named co-captain.
On her 18th birthday, Tully received a call from Ali Tucker-Munro informing her she had been selected in the inaugural Black Swans First Nations team – Netball Australia’s invitational team that aims to provide equitable and accelerated opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander netballers. The program is informed by netball's commitment to increase representation and retention of First Nations netballers within the high performance pathway.
Unfortunately, Tully sustained a long-term injury prior to the tournament in June, but was still able to travel to Brisbane with the team.
“The Black Swans was made up of girls around Australia who not only have a strong connection to their heritage and land but share the love for the game,” Tully said.
“I think this week recognised the importance of acknowledging our First Nations people and the talent in us Indigenous women and the future generations.”
Tully spreads a strong message to other First Nations netballers trying to make it through the pathway: “It won’t always be easy, but if you have the belief, dedication to put in the hard work, and surround yourself with the right people, anything is achievable.”
Aunty Lesley North – Proud Gunditjmara, Mutti Mutti and Torres Strait Islander woman
Naarm Angels Netball Club
Proud Gunditjmara, Mutti Mutti and Torres Strait Islander woman Aunty Lesley North is a nan, mother, aunty, leader and role model to many.
Her commitment to First Nations netball participation in the wider Darebin community spans over decades – including 43 years as a player – and even more so in the last 11 years since she began the Naarm Angels Netball Club.
In May, Darebin Netball Association celebrated its inaugural Aunty Lesley North First Nations Round, recognising the history, cultures and enormous contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to netball in Naarm and across the country.
The round started with a smoking ceremony and cultural performance from some of the Naarm Angels players. Clubs wore black arm bands and paused for a minute silence in respect of the Stolen Generations and recognition of First Nations peoples in Australia. Naarm Angels netball teams created possum skin wrist bands burnt with their teams’ values on the inside to gift to competing teams, in a fitting nod to Aunty Lesley’s impact on netballers in the area.
Angela Chittem – Proud Gunai woman
Morwell Netball Association
Proud Gunai woman and Morwell Netball Association president, Angela Chittem has a passion for developing First Nations netballers and ensuring safe environments for those wanting to play.
In her roles as president, Woolworths NetSetGO coordinator and an accredited coach, Angela works tirelessly, reaching many involved in the association to help promote inclusive pathways.
Angela is also the founder of Wrens Netball Club in Latrobe Valley, which is a First Nations-led club fostering an environment where First Nations peoples feel safe and supported playing netball. The Wrens have three junior teams and two senior teams and is growing rapidly.
In a high performance setting, Angela is an assistant coach at Gippsland Sport Academy, which develops athlete potential for selection into the next level of pathway – the Netball Victoria Eastern Talent Academy – before progression into State teams.
Angela was also a coach at Netball Victoria’s RACV Koorie clinics held in Drouin in April, which provide an opportunity for mob to get together and further develop their netball skills.
Angela’s expertise and experience has inspired many First Nations and non-First Nations netballers to reach their full potential and feel at home on court.
Away from netball, Angela is most proud of her large family of five children and five grandchildren and has fostered 38 children throughout her life.
Angela is an Aboriginal Practice Lead at VACCA/The Orange Door – supporting men, women, children and young people experiencing family violence.
Find out more about how Netball Victoria is recognising and celebrating the contribution First Nations peoples make to our netball community.
