Rebecca Johnstone’s efforts to revive netball participation rates in Wyndham post COVID 19, has resulted in her being named a finalist in this year’s Victorian Sports Awards.
Ms Johnstone and the Wyndham Netball Association (WNA) are in the running for the Sport and Active Recreation Initiative of the Year award for their Positive Starts program.
The program had its beginnings in November 2022, when Ms Johnstone, who is assistant principal at Wyndham Secondary College, joined the WNA board and proposed the idea of creating a partnership between the association and the Department of Education and Training’s Positive Starts netball grants program.
Offering participants complimentary ‘Train Like a Vixen’ skills sessions, Ms Johnstone secured funding for primary schools and secondary school participation, recruited ten coaches to support the program and ensured transportation expenses were covered to eliminate schools’ financial concerns.
In all, 2,161 students participated across 12 schools and 20 year levels, revitalising the local netball scene.
Despite the success of her idea, Ms Johnstone was still surprised to have been nominated.
“I must admit, when I first heard about this nomination, I was genuinely taken aback, it’s not every day that one finds themselves in the running for such a prestigious award,” she said.
“ I am truly shocked and deeply honoured to have been selected among such remarkable individuals. I honestly believe this is just a part of my normal work, so it’s been nice to receive recognition for it.”
Ms Johnstone joins BMX racer, Cameron Gatt, as Wyndham finalists in the Victorian Sports Awards.
Gatt, who last year took out the 15-16 age group BMX world championship, is nominated for Young Athlete of the Year.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 12.
Cade Lucas.
