By JARROD POTTER
EMBRACING the diverse Dandenong community earned St Mary’s Netball Club prestigious recognition from Netball Victoria.
St Mary’s – based out of the Dandenong and District Netball Association – was named the Inclusive Netball Community of the Year at the Netball Victoria Gala Awards Night for the club’s efforts with its “Grow With Goals” program.
The program encouraged players and family members from different cultures to get involved with netball and was inspired by St Mary’s player Achel Liai and her mother Alwal Madut – who is a leader within Greater Dandenong’s Sudanese community.
“It was a long process,” St Marys president Penny Collins said.
“It’s not like it has just been the last six months and we went ‘let’s go for the award’, this has been an ongoing aim for the last five years.
“Not that we’re looking for awards as such, but it was great to be recognised by our peers to know that we’re doing a great job.”
Winning the award was a huge honour for Collins and the club… she was proud to represent the Greater Dandenong netball community on the night.
“I think we’re all really happy and proud to represent Dandenong in the awards as we were the only Dandenong team in the awards.” she said.
Collins wanted to thank Netball Victoria and Dandenong and District Netball Association for their continued support and encouraged players from all backgrounds to get along and join the club.
“If you want to play or just want to have a try, there’s somewhere you can go to do that and I suppose that’s what St Mary’s is about,” Collins said.
“If you want to give netball a go, come and try.”
To join St Marys Netball Club, contact president Penny Collins on penny_collins@outlook.com for more information or visit a club training session at Greaves Reserve Netball Complex on Tuesday evenings from 4.30pm (juniors) or 5.30 (seniors).
