A jam-packed Kiama Bowling Club hosted the 2024 season launch of the Kiama Central Netball Club in the evening of Friday, April 26. For any lover of netball, it was the place to be.

Around 120 people – players, parents and siblings, sponsors, umpires, volunteers and committee members alike – came out to celebrate the new season, which officially began the following day (Saturday, April 27).

“The girls are still getting to know each other. They’re in their teams but they haven’t met that much outside,” says a spokesperson for the club.

Excited players gather for the season launch.

Indeed, there was electrical buzz in the air, and hardly a single seat to come by. Friends and families happily caught up, passing around soft drinks and bowls of chips. A long line stretched out to the entrance, with people signing up to participate in the 100 Club and the lolly guessing competition. 

“For five years, I’ve been president of this amazing club. And we have over 150 players,” president of the club, Kelly Schofield, notes as she welcomes everyone. The 2024 season is about having fun, she says, and “obviously, we want to win.” The last line is met with cheers and laughter.

What else is in store?

The netball season runs right up until September, which is when both the semi-finals and the grand finals take place. Throughout the season, there’ll be a couple of events going on, such as a pie drive (a fundraiser for the club) on 20 May and a bingo-themed night on 10 August.

The club also has a new home at the Kiama Bowling Club.

Devrat Rathore, Shaambhavi Rathore and Vertika Rathore from Penny Whistlers.

“The bowling club is a new sponsor. They’ve just come aboard this year, and that’s why we’re having our season launch here,” says a spokesperson for the club.

One of the bowling club’s goals is to sponsor community sports, underlines Wayne Richardson, board member of the Kiama Bowling Club, as he takes to the floor.

“I’ve been involved with a lot of sports. You can’t beat team sports. You make lifelong friendships,” he says. “I don’t have any girls, just two boys,” Richardson adds.

“You just got a 100 new girls,” someone jokes with him.

All of the club’s existing sponsors have come on board again for this year: the Kiama Rotary Club, BaiMed, First National Coast & Country Real Estate, Penny Whistlers, The Pines, and Gerringong Storage. “It’s fabulous,” the club’s spokesperson says. 

Wayne Richardson from the Kiama Bowling Club and Kiama Central Netball Club president Kelly Schofield.

Finally, the club wishes, “all the girls the best of luck through the season. And, thank all of our volunteers because we got around 30 volunteers in the club.”

“Plus the mums and the dads that cheer us on each week. A thank you to all of those people because obviously without them these things don’t happen.”