Media release
12 November 2009
For immediate release
Advanced Netball Coaching and Umpiring Clinic gets underway
The Australian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Chris Moraitis, officially opened the Port Moresby Netball Association’s (PoMNA) Advanced Netball Coaching and Umpiring Clinic this morning.
The idea for the five day Clinic was conceived by the PoMNA and the Australian Government contributed AUD $10,000 through the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) Pacific Sports Development Grants to make it a reality.
The Clinic is being delivered by two Australian netball experts – Ms Patti Farrell, an Australian Level 3 Coach, and Ms Louise McMeeking, a highly experienced Australian and international umpire - who will pass on their extensive coaching and umpiring experience to all of the participants.
Participants, representing a number of netball playing Provinces across the country, will then take their newfound knowledge and skills and use these to build the professionalism of netball in their own Province. The Clinic was scheduled to allow participants from a number of Provinces already travelling to Port Moresby for the PNG National Games to attend.
Mr Moraitis, when welcoming the participants to the Clinic, encouraged them to learn as much as they could over the next five days so they could take what they have learned and teach others back in their home provinces.
“I am always pleased to see projects like this receive funding, particularly because it will improve the participation and capability of women in sport,” Mr Moraitis said this morning.
“These ASOP grants offer direct financial support to sports organisations across PNG and the Pacific and target sports initiatives and programs that are inclusive and can bring about real change to local communities."
President of the PoMNA, Mrs Pole Kassman, thanked the Australian Government for the funding and acknowledged the two Australian netball specialists, Ms Farrell and Ms McMeeking, for taking time out of their busy schedules to travel to Port Moresby and deliver the Clinic.
The Clinic is one of two PoMNA projects funded under this year’s ASOP grant program. The second ASOP grant of AUD $10,000 is funding the refurbishment of a section of the existing ablutions block at the Rita Flynn Netball courts to create a women’s only gym.
The Clinic commences this morning and will conclude on Tuesday 17 November with the issuing of certificates for all participants.