When Creole Wallace takes on a volunteer role, it’s not just about seeing immediate results but watching her netball community grow and benefit in the long term.
The Mangonui Netball Centre (MNC) vice president does not remember when she first put her hand up as a volunteer, but her role-modelling mum always encouraged her to get involved.
“My parents have been great role models,” Wallace said. “My mama is a huge volunteer across a number of codes, and we learned early on that nothing happens at a community level without volunteers. So if we want these things to happen, we have to be prepared to put our hands up.”
What started out as collecting scorecards from netball courts at tournaments as a youngster has grown into various roles for the Mangonui Centre and the Northland Netball Cluster.
Wallace “wears a few hats” at the centre as vice president on the Executive Committee, Senior Draw Steward and as part of the Senior Committee.
She played a major role in helping the Centre switch from fully paper-based registrations to going online with the Sporty App which required a number of workshops and info Zooms to deliver the new process.
“It was a big change for our centre and lots of learning on everyone’s part,” Wallace said.
Her background in business & marketing has also been put to use and she has helped the Centre develop a marketing plan to use social media to help deliver important communications, Centre updates, volunteer acknowledgements and representative achievements to their netball community.
Wallace is also the MNC representative on the Northland Cluster Working Group, taking on a dual role on the committee as co-chair and as the coach/management liaison.
In her club and wider netball space, there are also plenty of miscellaneous tasks that she puts her hand up for including coaching, managing uniforms, ordering new kit and equipment, and booking venues for training.
The various volunteer roles keep Wallace busy during the netball season, but she believes the benefits of helping out are long-standing and also feels it is her duty.
“We still love the game and being involved to make it happen,” she said. “I love watching the result of hard work and seeing how our mahi benefits the community and opens doors for people.
“I feel a sense of having to give back. When I was younger, I had a heap of netball opportunities, went to some cool places, met amazing people and learned a lot more than just netball. That wouldn’t have been possible without our volunteers at the time, so now that I am in a position where I can do something like this, I feel like I should.”
There have been many highlights for Wallace but her role coaching the Abundant Life School Team in 2021 stands out, not for the results on court but the growth she saw off court.
“Watching those girls go from A to B skill-wise was great, but watching them grow off-court was amazing,” she said. “I believe in a holistic approach and that better people make better athletes, so watching the girls gain more confidence, get fitter and stronger, and make friends is what it’s all about.
“Most of these girls have left school or are seniors now and they still always come say hello if they see me in town – making lifelong friendships is something I value as a volunteer.
“I’m still young in this haerenga (journey) but would encourage everyone to give back to whatever sporting code they do,” she said. “If it is just in your club space, Centre or more, watching the product of your hard work come to life, improvements in your community and growth of our people – it’s worth all the hard work.”
There is a volunteer role for everyone. To be register your interest in volunteering and connect with your local Centre, join our netball whanau here.