Giving girls a safe non-judgmental place to play netball

Craigieburn Netball Association
Selfless. Dedicated. Charitable.

Niketa Loftus became a netball coach in 2014 when her daughter started playing the sport and other mums put her forward for the position.

Since then, she has founded the Craigieburn Thunders Club, which is a big multicultural family of more than eighty players in nine teams.

Niketa has ensured that everyone is welcome, regardless of their skill level or ability to pay.

Many players come from disadvantaged backgrounds, but Niketa has found sponsors, raised money and donated her own money to buy them uniforms and pay their fees.

“I noticed that there were a lot of kids who would come and play for a while and then would not come back. I found out that it was because their parents couldn’t afford it or they were disadvantaged in some way.”

Niketa feels honoured and a little overwhelmed to be voted a Westfield Local Hero. “Our main purpose is to provide disadvantaged children and youth with a safe place to play the game they love,” says the working mother of four.

“All the players have their own life story and challenges. My goal is to provide them with an opportunity to succeed.”

Her support for the players goes beyond the netball court, and the club hosts dinner evenings and team bonding sessions for the children.

“Some of them come from disturbing family backgrounds and the netball club is their non-judgmental safe place to be,” says Niketa, who was a keen netball player until her early twenties, when her second child was born.

Last year, the coach and mentor’s efforts were recognised when she won Netball Australia’s national One Netball Community Award.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation.

The netball association will use its grant to fund more players, run training workshops and buy new equipment and uniforms.

“The grant is heaven-sent. We have players on waiting lists, and it will open up netball to another twenty girls. It’s a huge relief,” says Niketa.

__For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here. __