It is not every day that someone like Jenny Doll walks through your doors and plays such a pivotal role in shaping an organisation. With International Volunteer Day on Sunday, it could not be more fitting that Doll was acknowledged as a Life Member for her continued service to Netball Victoria dating back over 30 years.
The newest life member inductee has been a familiar face around the State Netball and Hockey Centre dedicating her life to netball in all its forms and is simply “quite overwhelmed” with the honour.
“It is a huge, huge honour. Something that I never expected would happen. I just love volunteering for Netball Victoria, love doing the state league. Everything I do for Netball Victoria, and I try to do it to the best of my abilities - I love it,” she said.
Doll has committed not only time but so too her energy and love to the Vixens, volunteering for the club for the past 13 years. Although her role may have evolved over the time ranging from umpire liaison to customer service, one thing that hasn’t changed is her unwavering love for the sport.
Her caring and compassionate nature has not gone unnoticed often putting her hand up to look after the children of both Eloise Southby and Sharelle McMahon at training sessions. So much so that Sharelle’s youngest child – Ruby has taken a liking to the VNL thanks to the influence of Doll who has equipped Ruby with all the necessary skills to set-up the stadium on a Wednesday night.
A familiar face in the Vixens environment and the VNL, Doll is also a part of the furniture in the Victorian Fury space. She started volunteering with the Fury in 2013 taking on multiple roles including player welfare.
Prior to her time with the Victorian Fury, Doll volunteered to the state league now – VNL, applying for a role that she never in a million years thought she would get. But fate said otherwise with Doll quickly finding her feet in the netball world.
Having played netball as a junior, Doll always had an underlying passion for the sport but never could have imagined it would go this far. Originally it started off as simply as helping a friend out before Doll’s involvement grew becoming an integral member in Netball Victoria.
“A friend got me playing netball at St Christopher's and they wanted to restart their juniors. So because of my guide background my friend asked me to start the juniors which I did.”
It was a family affair for Doll with her husband John heading up the coaching for St Christopher's while Doll led the charge as an administrator growing the competition to 24 sides before dedicating her time to the state league -which became an integral part of her life.
Doll was also an integral member of the Melbourne Kestrels sitting on their committee. Her role often involved selling raffle tickets on game day or providing information around the stadium. She was also the state team manager for Victoria from 1999-2008 which encompassed a range of different responsibilities including assisting the coach courtside.
There is not a moment that Doll is not immersed in netball also doubling as a volunteer for Netball Australia where she is the umpire liaison for both national and international events. Doll has been actively involved in this role since 2014 while she has also been a crucial cog in the Netball Victoria competitions and programs including school championships and clinics.
“I had the opportunity through Netball Australia to travel with the umpires to the nationals for four or five years. That was through Netball Victoria, they put my name forward. I’ve travelled to the Quad Series and Constellation Cup with international umpires for the last four or five years.”
When looking back at some of the key moments Doll has experienced throughout her time with Netball Victoria it was almost too hard to choose, listing just about every field of netball imaginable. However, there was one main highlight and that was the opportunity to join the international side on tours around the country and the opportunity to build bonds and relationships with the players around her.
“I always remember Lisa Alexander would look at the players and say is Jenny allowed to stay? A lot of those kids I team managed such as Sharni (Norder nee Layton), Madi (Browne) they were all my era. Just that step up I felt so privileged.”
Doll’s recognition in the netball community was profound, recounting a moment in time when Melbourne Vixens’ inaugural coach Julie Hoornweg called asking to team manage the tryouts for the Vixens. A moment Doll looks back on with complete disbelief and pride.
“I don’t think so. I said there are other people who do the state teams. But Julie said ‘no we want you’ which was a huge honour. I went for three weeks to do the food and everything for the tryouts. I consider myself very fortunate”
There is no denying that netball runs through Doll’s veins, acting as a strong advocate for Netball Victoria with everything she does. A valued member of the netball world for the past 30 odd years Doll constantly goes above and beyond for the netball community.
“You do feel a part of the family, as the girls will tell you I think I run the show. They’re all just delightful. They’ve always made me feel welcome. I just love it.”
