Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
A DECREASE in registered junior players has called for action among the Mount Gambier Netball Association community with one club recently securing funding in a hope to boost numbers.
Amazons Netball Club was awarded $500 worth of funding from the 2019 Australia Post Community Grants program to inject into junior resources.
Club president Tanya Tonkin said the funding allowed for purchases of new netballs, bibs, umpire whistles and first aid equipment for the younger divisions.
“This would not have been possible without the funding,” she said.
“We are one of the newer clubs in the association so we hope this will allow us to set some foundation and encourage more junior players to join.
“The juniors are the future of the club and without them we basically will not have anything.”
Australia Post postal service officer and Amazon Netball Club secretary Jodie Cook said she heard of the funding program through her employment with Australia Post.
“I told the girls about it and thought why not, what have we got to lose,” she said.
“I have already been told we have to go for it again next year.
“All funding goes to building up the sport and players which is a great thing in itself.”
Cook said junior player numbers definitely need a “boost in the Mount Gambier Netball Association.”
“The Western Border and Mid South East leagues introduced two new divisions in each of the junior grades recently, which has significantly impacted Amazons,” she said.
“A lot of our players have seemed to move as it is easier on parents if other siblings or family members play at the club.
“When we first started we had four junior sides and we have now dropped to two, so it is hard.”
Cook said players gain a range of essential skills from playing netball along with any team sport.
“Netball allows them to get them out and about and off the computers,” she said.
“It allows them to develop their personal skills and interact with others who share the same interests.”
According to Tonkin, junior numbers have decreased among all association clubs, not just Amazons.
“We have all found it hard to recruit new members,” she said.
“We think if we get the word out we may be able to encourage younger ones and their friends to get actively involved.
“Of our 59 registered members only 16 are juniors so we would love to see more coming up through the ranks.”
