The Cairns Post

Netball legend on hand

- JORDAN GERRANS

Australian netball legend Vicki Wilson (above) was in the Far North yesterday for the launch of the Marlin Coast Netball Get Out and Get Active program. The Queensland Government, through the Embracing 2018 Legacy Program for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonweal­th Games, provided $33,000 to Queensland Netball Associatio­n Marlin Coast Branch towards a Get Out and Get Active program to get women and girls active for life.

AUSTRALIAN netball legend Vicki Wilson was in the Far North yesterday for the launch of the Marlin Coast Netball Get Out and Get Active program.

The Queensland Government, through the Embracing 2018 Legacy Program for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonweal­th Games, provided $33,000 to Queensland Netball Associatio­n Marlin Coast Branch towards a Get Out and Get Active program to get women and girls active for life.

The Marlin Coast Netball Region will conduct a six-week fun and fitness program in communitie­s and in schools with programs to follow including fast-five netball to support netball in rural and remote regions in Far North Queensland under the Get Out and Get Active program.

Marlin Coast Netball President Heather McLaren said the grant was a huge boost for the game in the Far North.

“The region will provide training for volunteers to present programs in community, schools and support fast-five carnivals,” McLaren said.

The grant will also connect women and girls from rural and remote areas to become members of local netball associatio­ns by spreading the message of the importance of physical activity, recognisin­g that netball caters for all levels of ability, inclusiven­ess and the joy of participat­ion.

“Women and girls can be discourage­d from physical ac- tivity due to several reasons, high cost of participat­ion, poor access to venues and activities, child-minding while at activity, lack of co-ordinated recreation activities, feeling unsafe,” McLaren said.

Wilson, now retired and coaching Fiji, led the Australian team to the first-ever netball gold medal at the Commonweal­th Games in 1998.

 ??  ??
 ?? Picture: ANNA ROGERS ?? FUN DAY: Vicki Wilson at the Marlin Coast Netball Get Out and Get Active workshop with Florence Peter, Taya Modra, Maddison Monson and Jordan Monson.
Picture: ANNA ROGERS FUN DAY: Vicki Wilson at the Marlin Coast Netball Get Out and Get Active workshop with Florence Peter, Taya Modra, Maddison Monson and Jordan Monson.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia