A team of netball players is winning hearts on and off the court as they connect with the community and change mindsets about what people with disabilities can achieve.

The Kurrajong Krushers, a team of clients from Kurrajong Narrandera, Leeton, and Griffith, have joined the Narrandera social netball competition, and have been winning fans for the past five weeks.

The team came about after a client expressed interest in joining a team. Enter Kurrajong Narrandera Team Leader Rosemary Orr, who set out to make it happen.

“I saw on Facebook that the Narrandera competition was starting so I contacted the president of the netball association and explained our side of things. After a few negotiations, the netball association put us into the competition.”

Players initially joined from Narrandera and Leeton, but soon came from Griffith too.

At first the team had support workers on court with them to help with rules and provide support, but as time has gone on, that on court support has reduced until now there is only one or two extras on court, Rosemary said.

“Their skill level has just improved so much.”

The other teams had been hugely supportive, as had the netball association, and the Kurrajong games were now generating large crowds of supporters.

“Every week we are getting a huge community following and we are getting other clients requesting supports to come and watch. We have even got staff, unrostered, coming to watch.”

The players loved being part of the team and playing the competition so much they had even used money they had raised from their recycling enterprise to purchase bibs, balls, and whistles so they could practice at the office.

“They absolutely love it.” Kurrajong Outreach Services Manager Deanne Bolesta said the benefits to come from having a team in the netball competition extended to far beyond just the players.

The community was able to see the value and role people of all abilities had, and it was a great learning opportunity for everyone, she said.

And of course, there have also been huge benefits to the players themselves.

“It’s improved teamwork, communication and the physical side of it. That community stuff, that belonging, the community coming to support them, the cheering, the self esteem, being part of a team, there’s just so many positives.”

“The whole town is talking about the Kurrajong netball team.” 

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 31 August 2023.