Proud Barkindji and Gumbaynggir man Morgan Gittins has long felt at home on the netball court.
A player from a young age, Gittins was encouraged to pick up a whistle at 12 with encouragement from his late aunty, Karen Milne, who founded an Indigenous club, Kutanya (meaning “all together”), playing at Golden City Netball Association in Bendigo.
“She was my first point of contact, and I will always be grateful for her pushing me outside of my comfort zone that day,” said Gittins. “I think it has led to something very beautiful… I do it for her.”
From that moment, Gittins threw himself into the world of umpiring. With guidance from experienced local officials and involvement in Netball Victoria’s Talent Academy Umpire Program, he quickly discovered his footing and passion.
“I found a true passion for it and maybe it was the first thing I found ability in, so naturally you want to pursue that but also improve as much as you can,” he said.
Gittins has taken his umpiring to the next level in recent years, officiating at larger tournaments including Netball Australia’s First Nations Tournament, and State Titles where he earned his B Badge in March.
Yet his journey has not been without challenges.
While Gittins said netball has provided him a safe space to express his identity, he acknowledges the barriers that still exist for many First Nations people — especially those in regional and rural communities.
“I think many are quick to judge a book by its cover. There are many silent barriers to participation within my community which can impact prospects and ultimately future opportunities,” Gittins said.
He believes real change requires more than just opportunity — it requires empathy.
“Stigma needs to be replaced with support, compassion, and understanding,” he said.
Gittins hopes his position in netball can help inspire to overcome these challenges and discover the pathway opportunities on offer.
“For the regional area of central Victoria, I do believe I have shown many that being Black doesn’t have to hold you back from your passion,” he said.
“But likewise, having opportunities and supportive programs within Netball Victoria can make a real difference to participation from my community.
“There is so much passion for sport and seeing a proud Aboriginal man on the court in a professional and high performance role will hopefully show that it is more than possible within our region.”
Initiatives in netball including the First Nations Tournament are a great place to start.
Gittins is once again umpiring at the tournament, held in Frankston this week. Now a permanent fixture on the Netball Australia calendar, the competition is an opportunity for First Nations talent to be showcased, celebrated, and supported to improve in an inclusive environment.
“It’s really inspiring [to see] that there’s others out there and we want to do better,” said Gittins.
It’s these opportunities to connect with likeminded people, and the ability to grow and improve every game — both on and off the court — that Gittins loves the most about netball.
“You can take what you did or didn't do from a game into the next game and try to implement it. It's a character-building kind of thing,” he said.
“It can often be challenging, but the challenge is also what makes it interesting to watch, play and umpire.”
Know an umpire or netball community making a real impact? Nominate them for the Contribution to Umpiring award or the Inclusive Netball Community of the Year, and help recognise their exceptional contributions.
