Parliament House in heart of Sydney provided the perfect backdrop for Netball NSW to celebrate the State’s recent contribution to 2023 Netball World Cup on Tuesday morning with Athletes, Coaches, Corporate Partners, Life Members, Families and Parliamentary Friends of the game among the stakeholders gathered to acknowledge some momentous achievements.
NSW Premier, The Hon. Chris Minns, and NSW Minister for Sport, The Hon. Steve Kamper, were in attendance as Netball NSW welcomed home and celebrated Paige Hadley, Sarah Klau (both NSW Swifts) and Jamie-Lee Price (GIANTS Netball) who all claimed World Cup Gold with the Australian Diamonds in Cape Town, South Africa.
As well as the Diamonds trio, Netball NSW also used the occasion to acknowledge members of the State’s netball family who shone in South Africa with different nations and in officiating roles, most notably:
- Swifts and England shooter Helen Housby who was named the World Cup MVP
- GIANTS shooter and England coaching team member Jo Harten, who led the Roses to Silver
- 2023 Swifts shooter Romelda Aiken George who was part of the Jamaican team that claimed Bronze
- Swifts head coach Briony Akle who was part of the Tongan coaching team, as well as 2023 Swifts defender Kelea Iongi and former Swift Mo’onia Gerrard who played for Tonga.
- GIANTS Academy athlete Luana Aukafolau and Netball NSW Premier League Player Peti Talanoa, who also represented Tonga.
- NSW umpires Tara Warner, Bronwen Adams and Jemma Cook who all officiated at the World Cup.
Netball NSW Chair Sallianne Faulkner said the State’s contribution to Australia’s No.1 sport for women and girls could not be underestimated.
“Over 20 million play netball worldwide, making it one of the most popular team sports on the planet,” she said.
“Among us at Parliament House on Tuesday morning we had not just world champions, but some of the finest international athletes plying their trade today.
“What netball, and the women who pioneered the sport, have been able to achieve by themselves over the past 100 years has been quite phenomenal. Think about it: 20 million people playing worldwide, with well over 1 million of them participating in Australia alone, and a huge amount of that number residing in NSW.
“Despite the huge numbers playing around the world, Australia continues to lead the way. Let me tell you, that doesn’t happen by accident.
“Securing a 12th world title earlier this year, 60 years after the Diamonds claimed their first, is a real demonstration of Australia’s excellence in this field. The Diamonds are the country’s most decorated national team with an international sporting strike-rate that equals, or perhaps even betters, the likes of the All Blacks in rugby and the USA in basketball.
“That’s the calibre of athlete we are taking about, and NSW has proudly played a huge role in putting Australia and the wider game at the forefront of international excellence when it comes to women in sport.
“Parliament House was a fitting setting to welcome back our outstanding elite netballers, coaches and officials and I would like to specifically thank Premier Minns and Minister Kamper for their time, as well as Lynda Voltz MP, Member for Auburn, for her assistance in making the event come to life.”
Netball NSW CEO Tracey Scott echoed Faulkner’s sentiments.
“This was a wonderful event and I would like to thank our Parliamentary Friends of Netball for helping bring it to life, as well as our Athletes, Board members, Life Members, Commercial Partners and Staff who all played a big role.
“It was very important to us that we celebrate the incredible achievements of our netball family who participated in the 2023 Netball World Cup, and in particular Paige, Sarah and Jamie-Lee in being World Champions.
“Netball holds a cherished place in the NSW sporting landscape, and without our huge grassroots base of over 800 clubs across every part of the State celebrations like this are not possible.
“We look forward to working even closer with our Government stakeholders who are keenly aware of the huge health and social benefits netball provides to every NSW community.
“It is our collective focus to ensure the game delivers for all participants, both grassroots and elite, as we gear up for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, and beyond.”
