One of the world’s best goal shooters Donnell Wallam will travel to Samoa next month as part of a high-profile player visit.
The Origin Australian Diamonds goaler will take part in community clinics designed to inspire, engage and mentor Samoan netballers.
During the visit, held from November 12 to 14 and run in collaboration between Netball Samoa and Netball Australia, Wallam will connect with community members who have participated in Team Up’s One Netball Samoa program.
Wallam will engage with local schools through the One Netball Samoa program.The hope is that Wallam helps inspire them to continue engaging in netball to develop their sense of self-worth and leadership skills.
The One Netball program enables Samoan communities to experience lifelong enjoyment, social inclusion and improved physical health through netball.
As well as bringing her breadth of knowledge and skillsets as an exceptional high-performance athlete, Wallam will bring her unique perspective as an Indigenous Noongar woman in the Australian sporting landscape. She has shared the importance of her culture and heritage throughout her sporting career.
Donnell Wallam will be sharing her experience as a one of the world's best goal shooters.Wallam’s visit to Samoa will build on an ongoing relationship between the Pacific and Australian First Nations communities to share knowledge and perspectives within sport, while celebrating culture and strengthening community ties across the region.
The 30-year-old is looking forward to being part of the activities and inspiring the next generation of Pacific netballers.
“Culture and community are something I’ve valued most throughout my netball career so far, so being able to experience the Samoan culture and share my netball knowledge and engage with community is something I’m really looking forward to,” Wallam said.
“I hope I can leave an impact and inspire the community.”
In 2022, Maisie Nankivell from the Adelaide Thunderbirds visited Papua New Guinea as part of the Team Up Program, in which she worked with coaches, children, and schools, exploring the value of netball in the local community. Wallam’s visit to Samoa will continue this legacy of positively inspiring community members in the Pacific through One Netball.
Masie Nankivell shared her skills and experience with communities in Papua New Guinea. Netball Australia CEO Stacey West said the organisation is proud to support the Team Up program.
“Donnell Wallam will bring inspiration and enthusiasm to the community participants she engages with, connecting through culture and leaving a lasting mark on their netball journey,” she said.
“Netball Australia is thrilled to support the Team Up program to inspire communities in the Pacific, bring people together, and create opportunity through netball.”
The local community are excited to welcome Wallam to Samoa. President of Netball Samoa Afioga Peseta Noumea Simi is also delighted to welcome Wallam to Samoa.
“Donnell’s engagement with children and members of our community, particularly as a Diamonds athlete, will encourage more participation in netball and inspire the next generation of Samoan netballers,” she said.
The visit will be supported by the Australian Government through Team Up, a sport for development program aiming to ‘Transform Lives Through Sport’.
Through encouraging partnerships across Asia-Pacific, Team Up utilises sport to bring people together, champion inclusion and create opportunity.
To find out more about Netball Australia’s work in the Pacific, click here.
