Netball across the state couldn’t run without the passion and dedication of volunteers. They are champions of our game and in our community, often going about their work without seeking praise or acknowledgement.
As part of Volunteer Week, we spoke with former Sale Netball Association president, Pam Sellings on how her volunteer work at SNA has shaped her and her family, and the skills she has been able to transfer into her full-time work.
PAM SELLINGS
Former president, Sale Netball Association and Executive Officer at the South Eastern Independent Schools Association
Tell us about your journey from netball volunteer to your current job.
In 2021, I joined the Sale Netball Association (SNA) committee at their AGM and the president role was left vacant. Never one to stand by when a job needed to be done, I put my hand up for president a few weeks later and began getting stuck in at SNA. I served two years as a very hands-on president but decided in 2023 to step down and allow the younger generation (Caitlin) a chance to lead. The universe lined up and I applied for my current job at the same time as preparing for the AGM. I started my new job two weeks later.
What did your volunteer role at Sale Netball Association involve?
At SNA I did (and still do) anything that needed to be done – I figured things out as I went. I ran meetings, handled a lot of the emails, learned the ins and outs of Netball Connect, umpire rosters, ran the Saturday competition, Covid marshalled, court supervised – the list goes on. When I didn’t have enough hands, I brought my 10-year-old daughter in to help. She learned to time keep and run the front desk. When we were short of umpires, I jumped on court and did that. Knowing that would be an ongoing need, I got some training & was awarded by C badge in 2023. After I stepped down as president, I still work behind the scenes in a mentoring capacity – giving administration support and assistance where required.
What does your involvement look like now?
I am still playing twice a week at SNA and umpiring every chance I get. On Monday nights, I play and umpire. On Saturdays, I juggle playing, coaching my kids team and also umpire or work with young beginner umpires for two games. I spend time working in the background on administration tasks where needed.
What drew you to volunteer at Sale Netball Association in the first place?
When no one put their hand up for the job, I couldn’t sit by and do nothing. If I wanted a great association for my daughters to play in, I had to be willing to volunteer.
How did your experience as a volunteer help or impact your move into a paid role in sport?
The experience I gained in sports administration put me in great position to be able to gain paid employment. At SNA I learned rostering, scheduling, cooperation, and conflict management. I was president through Covid were we had to adapt and have plans change in an instant. I learned to accept things as they were and move on to find solutions to problems. I spend most of my day doing this now.
How are you managing your work at Sale Netball Association with your full-time job?
I had to set some boundaries in this space. I chose not to stand for general committee following stepping down as president. Caitlin, who took over as president is a highly skilled, capable person and I felt that by removing myself from the committee, she would have full support from SNA. She wouldn’t need to second guess what she was doing because it might have been different to what I did. I have however worked very closely with Caitlin over the past two years. My work is flexible, so I can still commit to Monday nights and Saturday netball.
Why would you recommend volunteering in sport to others?
The friendships that I have made are the best things about volunteering at SNA. In 2023, our committee had members from age 24 to 85+ on it, and I loved spending time with all of them. They were all there because they love netball and ultimately want to make a positive impact in our community. It takes the contribution of many to make SNA the success it is today. I am extremely grateful that I took the chance to become president in 2021. I didn’t know it at the time, but it changed the course of my entire life. I began playing again, I learned to umpire and to coach, and it led me to my current role.
What kind of person could volunteer, particularly at Sale Netball Association?
Absolutely anyone is welcome to volunteer at SNA. My 10-year-old learned to time keep and run the front desk, juniors jump in and assist with the NetSetGO program, retired ladies work out front desk and all sorts of family members pitch in on tournament day…there are roles for everyone willing to help out.
What would you say to people looking to fill spare time or looking to give back to the community?
I think it’s something you will never regret. I was raised in a family where volunteering was the norm, so I knew that I would end up in some community role. Like all jobs, it can be hard, but to know that you are contributing something valuable to the community is an amazing feeling.
