As a part of their visit to Gold Field’s Granny Smith site tour this week, West Coast Fever netball players, Jhaniele Fowler and Sunday Aryang, touched down in Laverton for a memorable two-day visit that left a lasting impact on the local community.
While up in the Gold Fields region the players dedicated a significant portion of their time to immerse themselves in the Laverton community. Laverton School played host to the star athletes, where they had the opportunity to connect with students of all ages.
Wendy Norris, the school's principal, expressed her gratitude to both the players and the Gold Fields employees for their generosity in sharing their valuable time with the students. She praised the netball stars as role models and emphasised the long-term benefits this visit would provide to the students, saying, "Our students have had a brilliant time getting to learn from two of the best netballers in the country."
During their visit to Laverton School, Fowler and Aryang met with the school's Shooting Stars students, showcased their skills on the netball court alongside the Laverton School's country week basketball team, and even took part in a baking session, making damper with the junior students.
The visit underscores the long-term partnership between Gold Industry Group and Netball WA, West Coast Fever, and Shooting Stars, which renewed its commitment last year, extending the agreement through to 2024. This renewal coincides with Netball WA's centenary year, marking a significant milestone in their partnership journey, which commenced in 2019.
Gold Industry Group CEO, Kristy Reilly, personally accompanied the players during their Laverton visit and their tour of the Granny Smith mine site. She highlighted the profound impact of the partnership on inspiring young women across the state and described the visit as an opportunity to showcase the industry's influence on local communities.
"Visiting Laverton was a terrific opportunity to showcase the impact our industry partnership with West Coast Fever has on inspiring young women across the State," she said.
"It was also a privilege to accompany the Fever players as they got to see firsthand the inner workings of a gold mine and what the mine of the future will look like."
Stuart Gilsenan, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Netball WA and West Coast Fever, emphasised the value of their partnership with the Gold Industry Group, including its funding members like Gold Fields. He highlighted the benefits it brings to all levels of netball in Western Australia, from elite programs like West Coast Fever to grassroots community netball.
Gilsenan expressed anticipation for continued collaboration with the Gold Industry Group, Gold Fields, and other funding members, underscoring its vital role in supporting the WA mining industry and the individuals, families, and communities associated with it.
The West Coast Fever players' visit to Laverton not only left an indelible mark on the community but also reaffirmed the importance of partnerships between the sports world and the mining industry in fostering growth and inspiration within local communities.