“Here if you need” is one of netball’s quintessential catch cries, and a value statement we feel needs to transcend the court as we gather to take a stand against racism and support the members of our community that have experienced and been impacted by it. Supporting our teammates in a time of need is what we should do best.
The sharing of stories provides an opportunity to learn and we hope many of you listened to Beryl Friday’s story, which was shared with Sue Gaudion. If you haven’t, we encourage you to – it can be found HERE.
Beryl’s story is incredibly powerful.
You can’t help but be impacted emotionally by her lived experiences. Her courage and willingness to share her story now provides important opportunities for learning for the netball community.
It should go without saying that there is no place for racism in sport. No place for racism in netball. Everyone has the right to feel welcome, safe and supported in our game.
It’s important that experiences such as Beryl’s are heard so we, as a netball community, do better. Learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, listening with humility and understanding, investing our energy in systemic change and caring about all the game’s people will be key to building a different future.
Our actions must speak louder than our words.
We know that strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation rates and talent within our grassroots and state competitions are not translating into our elite pathway.
We acknowledge that the last Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman to be a member of the Australian Netball team was Sharon Finnan-White OAM more than 20 years ago and that Marcia Ella-Duncan OAM, 10 years earlier, was her only predecessor. The next generation of players, coaches, officials, administrators and fans can’t be what they can’t see.
Whilst work began with our first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2015, and there are many initiatives already in place around the country, we acknowledge there’s more we can do to ensure our sport welcomes, respects and is a safe place for all.
Everyone in our game deserves the opportunity to reach their potential on and off the court. We will all play a role in shaping positive change. Netball Australia, the Origin Diamonds and Super Netball commit to working side by side with the netball community, including its workforce, stakeholders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other diverse communities to explore, better understand and address the systemic issues that limit our game and the positive benefits it can provide.
We must stand with our teammates, our sisters from around the globe, many of whom participate in Suncorp Super Netball, to celebrate and nurture diversity in our game, to ensure black lives always matter.
We must learn from the past and better understand what is really happening today. We must make a long-term commitment to change. The actions we take today must be sustained and continue to evolve for years to come.
Through action, we will strive to play a bigger game and shape a better tomorrow.
Signed,
Marne Fechner, NA Chief Executive
Paolina Hunt, Chair of the NA Board
Caitlin Bassett, Captain Origin Netball Diamonds
Marina Go, Chair of Suncorp Super Netball
Chris Symington, SSN Chief Executive
