As part of National Volunteer Week, Netball Victoria is celebrating the volunteers who help create welcoming, connected and thriving netball communities across Victoria.
For Virginia Hunt, volunteering started simply by helping out while her daughter played netball through Inverloch-Kongwak Football Netball Club. Three years later, she is now President of the Wonthaggi & District Netball Association (WDNA), helping lead the growth and relaunch of junior netball in the region.
“My daughter started playing netball through Inverloch-Kongwak FNC, and I began by helping out where I could,” Virginia said.
“From there, I became more involved in supporting the relaunch and rebuilding of Wonthaggi & District Netball Association, which was an exciting challenge for our local netball community.”
Things escalated quickly after that.
“Within a short period of time I went from helping out at a club level to being elected President of WDNA,” she said.
“It definitely wasn’t something I originally planned, but I’m incredibly proud to be part of a volunteer team helping grow netball locally again.”
For Virginia, one of the biggest rewards of volunteering is seeing the impact netball has on young players.
“Seeing young players grow in confidence and friendships is probably the biggest reward,” she said.
“I also love the sense of community around netball. There’s something really special about hundreds of people coming together every Saturday morning.”
This year has been particularly exciting for WDNA, with the launch of new Under 13 and Under 15 representative teams, creating more opportunities for local players to develop and compete.
Among all the memorable moments, one stands out above the rest.
“The relaunch day for WDNA on 28 March 2026 is something I’ll never forget,” Virginia said.
“Seeing the courts full again, hearing the excitement from players and families, and watching volunteers from all clubs come together to make it happen was incredibly special.”
After months of preparation behind the scenes, the successful return of junior netball in Wonthaggi was a proud moment for everyone involved.
“There was such a strong sense of pride and community around the day,” she said.
“After all the work leading up to it, seeing junior netball back up and running in such a positive way made it all feel worthwhile.”
Virginia also hopes more people come to appreciate the amount of work volunteers contribute behind the scenes every week.
“People often don’t realise how much happens behind the scenes before a single whistle blows,” she said.
“Fixtures, registrations, uniforms, umpire coordination, court setup, social media, communication and problem-solving. Volunteers are constantly juggling things quietly in the background to make game day happen.”
For anyone considering volunteering, Virginia says you don’t need to be an expert to make a difference.
“There’s a role for everyone, and even small contributions help enormously,” she said.
“Volunteering is a great way to meet people, feel connected to your community and help create positive experiences for young people.”
When asked to describe volunteering in netball in three words, Virginia’s answer was simple:
Rewarding. Chaotic. Community.
And her favourite game day moment?
“That first burst of noise and excitement when the morning games begin.”
This National Volunteer Week, Netball Victoria thanks Virginia and every volunteer helping make netball stronger in communities across the state.
