As is common in Victoria’s footy netball world, local support for the Epping Football Netball Club harks back to the club’s formation in 1895, but it has never been more evident than in the club’s recent – and successful – campaign for a $20,000 grant from the Woolworths Pick Fresh Play Fresh Netball Grants program.
Based in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Epping is one of many football netball clubs in Victoria with a passionate local community and proud history.
The club introduced its Woolworths NetSetGO program in 2022, and when the opportunity arose to apply for a grant to support and grow the offering, club administrators leapt at the chance and the footy netball community rallied.
An enormous 17,000 votes saw Epping take out the $20,000 People’s Choice Award, demonstrating a level of community engagement and support that Junior Netball Coordinator Meaghan Coyle is extremely proud of.
“We're so grateful for the support they've given the club and grateful to Woolworths for this opportunity to grow our junior netball and Woolworths NetSetGO program,” she said.
“Our Woolworths NetSetGO program is still in its early years, but we’re building solid foundations.”
From humble beginnings with 14 kids registered in the club’s first year of Woolworths NetSetGO, to more than doubling their participant numbers from this year’s winter competition to the upcoming summer competition, Epping’s junior netball offering is making an impact.
“NetSetGO participants are better prepared for junior netball competition and more likely to continue their netball journey through juniors into seniors,” said Coyle.
“We all know the health benefits of regular physical activity, but the benefits of young people participating in sports in our multicultural community extend beyond just the physical.
“Team sports like netball provide opportunities for social connections between players and families, celebrate diversity and inclusion, and foster resilience and friendships.”
With participation growing alongside community engagement, the $20,000 grant from Woolworths is already supporting the program’s growth and delivery.
“The Woolworths People’s Choice Netball Grant Award has allowed us to provide healthy snacks at training, upgrade some of our gear and equipment, and grow our Woolworths NetSetGO and junior netball programs,” Coyle said.
“We’ve also been able to provide scholarships to remove the financial barriers that might prevent some children from participating, and we’re upgrading our lighting so we can train safely in the evenings.”
Coyle credits much of Epping’s junior netball program’s success to the club’s inclusive approach – focusing on the importance of participants having a positive experience is resulting in organic growth.
“A central part of our strategy to grow our Woolworths NetSetGO and junior netball programs has been to create an environment where people feel welcome, included and valued,” she said.
“Most of our new players and families have come through word of mouth.”
Coyle acknowledges the challenges that can come with expanding community sport programs at pace, and encourages other clubs to put the time into grant applications to support their communities.
“Of course, growth costs money! Thankfully there are plenty of funding opportunities and resources available to support community sport, particularly for young people.
“The Woolworths Pick Fresh Play Fresh Netball Grants are easy to apply for and provide substantial funds for junior netball.
“Don’t forget about local council and community organisations who often provide grants for sporting clubs – many local councils also run workshops on how to prepare grant applications to take some of the mystery out of it. It’s a numbers game, and you’ve got to be in it to win it!”
Melbourne Vixens squad member Emily Andrew and Woolworths NetSetGO ambassador Cath Cox visited Epping Football Netball Club to meet the program’s participants, with Cox speaking about the grant program’s benefits to local netball communities.
“It benefits the entire community by bringing it together through team sport, but also by taking a little bit of the pressure off families financially,” she said.
“The netball grants allow the clubs to be able to support their junior players, they allow them to get to training and help them with healthy food choices as well.”
Woolworths has been involved with netball since 2018, in that time contributing to over 320 local clubs across the country and providing over $1.4 million in support to the grassroots game.
Find out more about the Woolworths NetSetGO program and find your local Woolworths NetSetGO Centre now
