Discussion with Mr Simon Taylor, CEO Netball WA

The Governor spoke with Mr Simon Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Netball WA.

Picture source: The picture above has been provided by Netball WA and is of Kaylia Stanton at training in January 2020.

“National Volunteer Week: an excellent time to talk about netball. Because the competition in WA relies on 10,000 of them. Useful conversation with Simon Taylor who heads up the organisation of the sport here.

He is relieved to say training has started again and they hope to start up soon in June with a competition which will last through to September/October. On a Saturday 40,000 juniors and above take to the courts and 50,000 5-10 year olds. When schools start their programmes another 100,000 join them. And then, brilliantly, Aboriginal and other special communities join with 20,000. I was deeply impressed when touring the Eastern Kimberley last year, meeting with the Aboriginal netballers in the Shooting Stars programme. A superb focus for education and a path to high status competition. 

Netball WA has 85 employees and another 16 associated with Shooting Stars. They are helped by Federal job subsidies at the moment but hopefully as competition at all levels kicks in, sponsors will be active. The Gold Industry group has become a major backer both of the general programme and the Shooting Stars. Remarkably good judgement this by the industry. Netball is the most popular sport by participation int he country.

But again, in this week, nothing compares to the immense value of the 10,000 volunteers who are standing up again for the sport in troubled times.”

Governor

The Governor is proud to be Patron of Netball WA

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