Lasting impact through Samoa visit

By Elizabeth Winter

Origin Australian Diamonds goaler Donnell Wallam recently visited Samoa, as part of Team Up’s One Netball program, supported by the Australian Government.

Wallam had the opportunity to engage with the local community, learn more about their culture, and work with schools and clubs to inspire, engage, and mentor Samoan netballers.

With a breadth of knowledge and experience as one of the world’s best goal shooters, Wallam was excited from the outset to connect with community members in Samoa, including children, teachers, parents, coaches and netballers of all different ages and abilities.

“When I was asked to attend Team Up’s One Netball program in Samoa I was really excited, it’s something that I’ve looked into and wanted to be a part of in the past, so I’m really happy to be here,” she said.

Here’s some highlights from the trip.

TRADITIONAL WELCOMES

Wallam was welcomed to Samoa through a traditional ‘ava ceremony. The cornerstone of Samoan hospitality, the ceremony symbolises respect and a warm welcome to guests. Through sharing a ceremonial drink made from the ‘ava plant, the ceremony is accompanied by traditional oratory to highlight special occasions.

Wearing a traditional lavalava for the ceremony, Wallam expressed gratitude to receive this welcome to Samoa.

“From the ‘ava ceremony, I can see how much the One Netball program means to the Samoan community and how much they appreciate someone from the Australian Diamonds coming over and helping out with the clinics, and I’m really excited to engage with the community here,” she said.

The ceremony was an insight into the Faʻa Sāmoa, ‘the Samoan Way', which Wallam got to see more of throughout the visit, through traditional song, performances, and acts of kindness from the community.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

As one of the world’s best goal shooters, a skills session with Wallam is an opportunity nobody wants to miss, and the Samoan netball community was no exception to this. From the outset, everybody was excited to learn from the Diamonds’ athlete.

On her first day in Samoa, Wallam trained both girls and boys ages 13-17 in netball clinics, providing tips and encouragement to help them improve throughout the sessions. Some participants were active members of the netball community while others hadn’t had much experience in the sport, but all of whom improved in both skill and understanding.

Tala Malaki,  Vaiala Beach School Principal, commented on how the One Netball Program initiatives, such as Wallam’s visit, have helped young netballers to learn valuable life skills including understanding that netball is a sport for all to enjoy.

“Netball is known as a sport for girls, and I don’t think that our kids see how big netball is in terms of male and females, like what it is back home, in Australia and NZ. So it’s been really good to have the boys involved and to develop a love for netball,” she said.

In line with the Team Up objectives to inspire children to have fun, learn and improve health through netball, Wallam’s presence inspired a range of students to enjoy learning new skills in a fun and safe environment.

Wallam also took part in open grade clinics, engaging active members of the Samoan netball community who welcomed the international star and her top-tier coaching tips with open arms.

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS

Team Up’s One Netball program prioritises providing opportunities for Samoans of all genders and ages to participate in netball and develop their leadership skills through sport.

Wallam felt it was important to leave a positive impact on the Samoan community, particularly girls and women.

“I hope to leave a lasting impact in the community here and really inspire young Samoan girls to take up netball and to believe their dreams in whatever sport they choose to pursue,” she said.

Being an international female athlete, Wallam’s presence in Samoa inspired the younger generation by promoting positive attitudes toward gender equality and inclusion.

Justine Samu, Sport Development Manager at Netball Samoa, emphasised the significance of Wallam’s visit to inspire young women and girls.

“To have someone our local community can look up to, can aspire to be, and who’s relatable, we’re really grateful Donnell is here with us,” she said.

Sharon Fidow, local Samoan coach and mother to one of the participants in Wallam’s clinics, spoke on the significance of the visit in inspiring both young girls, but also for coaches.

“As a parent and coach, it feels very exciting, we don’t get this opportunity all the time for elite players to come here,” she said.

“It’s important for my daughter to attend these clinics, it gives her the confidence to play. For us as coaches, it’s great to attend these clinics. It means we have the confidence, and we know how to deliver these sessions.”

INSPIRING YOUNG NETBALLERS

Wallam visited a variety of schools and clubs throughout her time in Samoa, including Vaiala Beach School, where young netballers had the opportunity to learn from her experience and skills on the netball court.

Principal Malaki said the One Netball program has made a great difference to students’ participation levels.

“Through One Netball initiatives, we have gone from struggling to recruit students to be involved in netball at school, to now having so many students wanting to take part that we are channelling more students into community netball clubs,” Malaki said.

“The most obvious difference is how their love of netball developed.”

Increasing participation is a key objective of the Team Up High Profile Player Visits, and Wallam reflected on the significance of inspirational athletes on her own sporting career journey.

“An athlete that had a significant impact on me was Cathy Freeman,” Wallam explained.

“Seeing her run in the race in the 2000 Olympics really inspired me to chase my dreams, I think she inspired a whole nation and seeing her run out with the Aboriginal flag was something that I still to this day have loved and found so special.”

Wallam hopes her visit to Samoa will continue the legacy of positively inspiring young netballers through her visit.

“I hope I’ve inspired kids to follow their dream. Especially being a First Nations athlete, showing them it is possible to reach the highest level in sport, education, or whatever path they want to pursue in their career,” she said.

“I’ve loved getting out to the schools and seeing the kids’ faces light up. I think that’s the best thing about netball and sport overall, is seeing kids be active, healthy and happy.”

This visit has been 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.