Training in the Dark! Netballers Gain Funding to Ditch Car Headlights

Jindera Netballers flanked by City of Wodonga Mayor Annie Speedie, AlburyCity Mayor Kevin Mack and Angie Murcott from McRae Holden. Photo: TruPics

The Jindera Netball Club used creative measures to highlight their desperate appeal for funding to secure lighting upgrades.

As part of a funding application for the latest round of Holden Home Ground Advantage grants, the netballers organised a fleet of cars with their headlights turned on, to light up their netball courts during training, as part of a video application.

While the comical skit highlighted their lighting woes, their creative approach paid off, with the club securing $22,000 to upgrade lights.

Club President Jess Guy says training during winter has been a challenge.

“We received the old footy club lights when they upgraded theirs,” Jess said.

Jindera netballers training in the dark. Photo credit: Jindera Netball Club YouTube Video

“But there were no caps put on the top of the poles, which then caused birds and water damage to get in and that’s affected all the wiring.

“We’ve spent a few years spending money on getting them temporarily fixed all the time, but they really need to be replaced properly.”

At the moment, the netballers mostly rely on lighting from the nearby football oval, spilling onto part of the courts.

“When the footy lights are on and they’re training as well, they do light up our courts a little so we’ve been able to get away with it,” Jess said.

“But we’ve got three courts and have to move to the area with the best lights when we want to do a court play. Without proper lighting, it’s dangerous and the girls can easily do injuries.”

The Jindera Netball Club isn’t the only local sporting club to receive a Holden Home Ground Advantage grant. Emerging rugby league club, the Albury Wodonga Munyaas Aboriginal Sporting Club has also secured a grant for uniforms and equipment.

Albury Wodonga Munyaas Aboriginal Sporting Club is joined by Member for Albury Greg Aplin, AlburyCity Mayor Kevin Mack and Angela Murcott from McRae Holden as they celebrate with their $12,000 donation

Club President Trevour Slater, says the funding is crucial for the ongoing development of the club which was only formed last year.

“We’re pretty lucky that we scored this grant because without it, we don’t know where we’d be,” Trevour said.

“Uniforms cost a lot of money when you get into it. Buying for a whole team of 25 players and coaching staff on top of that and supplying them with some gear and everything starts to add up very quickly.”

The Munyaas, which means ‘murray cod’ in Wiradjuri language, is gearing up for its second appearance, representing Albury Wodonga in the NSW Koori Knockout, one of the biggest indigenous sporting events in Australia.

“It’s about getting our players to these big events, opening up different pathways, playing against NRL players and giving an opportunity for some of the guys to be scouted,” Trevour said.

Both the Albury Wodonga Munyaas and Jindera Netball Club couldn’t be more thankful of the support from Holden, and in particular their local dealership, McRae Holden.

“I’m overwhelmed by it,” Trevour said.

“It means so much. You try so hard to get funding so when I got that call it just meant the world, a big relief off the shoulders and ‘yes’ – I could breathe again.

“You can’t thank them enough, for what they do for communities and that little bit of help goes a long way and makes things possible. It gets things happening for the club. What they do is awesome,” Trevour said.

Photo credit: Albury Wodonga Munyaas

For Jindera Netball Club, it’s the perfect boost for the club, with all four senior teams in the Hume Netball Association top six and eyeing a promising finals campaign.

“It’s absolutely fantastic,” Jess said

“Especially since we’re still separate from our football club, meaning we’ve done heaps of fundraising over the years, so to secure something like this from Holden is fantastic for our club.”

Dealer Principal of McRae Holden, Michael Blomeley says securing funding for two sporting clubs in the region, rather than one annually is a coup.

“Sport is a wonderful part of our local community fabric, and governments, along with organisations like McRae Holden, play a critical role in helping them thrive,” Mr Blomeley said.

“To be able to support two clubs in our region as part of this year’s nationwide Holden Home Ground Advantage Program is fantastic news.

“Local sporting clubs play a really important role within their communities and we are thrilled to help invest in their futures,” he said.

For more on the Holden Home Ground Advantage: https://www.holden.com.au/discover-holden/home-ground-advantage

To view the Jindera Netball Club’s video application on YouTube click here:

Produced by Border Cafe in partnership with McRae Holden