Netball WA, West Coast Fever and Shooting Stars are delighted to announce that the Gold Industry Group has committed $5 million to netball in Western Australia in a record partnership deal.
The three-year deal is the largest investment in Netball WA’s 95-year history and will provide valuable funding for all levels of the sport in this State.
The Gold Industry Group is a not-for-profit, member-based industry association dedicated to collectively championing, growing and supporting the gold sector and the wider community in Australia.
The partnership will see the Gold Industry Group become the Principal Partner of Netball WA, an Elite Partner of West Coast Fever and the first Premier Partner of Shooting Stars.
The partnership will also further cement the Gold Industry Group as a leader in gender diversity both in the resources industry and the broader WA community, enabling it to work with Netball WA to create a clear pathway for women to gain employment in the gold industry, pursue higher education opportunities and become leaders and role models in the sector.
Netball WA Chief Executive Officer and West Coast Fever Managing Director Simon Taylor thanked the Gold Industry Group for its foresight in advancing netball in Western Australia.
“This is a landmark day for netball in our State,” Taylor said.
“Never before has there been an investment of this level in women’s sport in our State, and we’re incredibly proud to walk side by side with the Gold Industry Group as we work toward making today’s vision tomorrow’s reality.
“This partnership will empower our 230,000 participants across Western Australia to take control of their netball destiny, shape their journey, and work together towards our common purpose of Advancing Netball, Advancing Communities.
“On behalf of every netball participant in our great State, I say with a heart of gold an immense thank you to the Gold Industry Group for its investment in netball.”
West Coast Fever Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich said the investment was invaluable for netball.
“Each time we step out on court, we are now doing so with the proud support of the Gold Industry Group,” Marinkovich said.
“The significance of this investment cannot be understated.
“There is no doubt in my mind that this partnership will directly relate to more Western Australians being involved with our great game across the State.
“On behalf of the West Coast Fever Netball Club, I would like to thank the Gold Industry Group for its investment in our club, and for its passion in advancing women’s sport.”
Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz said the partnership would have tangible results for the program’s participants.
“This partnership will continue to help us change the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls living in some of Western Australia’s most remote communities,” Haintz said.
“We could not be more proud to have the support of the Gold Industry Group.
“This investment will result in more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in schools, furthering their education and helping them to realise their full potential.
“On behalf of the more than 350 participants in our program, I thank the Gold Industry Group for its investment in the Shooting Stars program as our first Premier Partner.”
Gold Industry Group Vice Chairperson Kelly Carter said the partnership was one of a kind and the gold industry was extremely proud to support netball at all levels across Western Australia.
“We are delighted by the opportunity to support netball and women’s sport on a scale never before seen in Australia,” Carter said.
“This is an unprecedented project for the resources sector, with member companies of the Gold Industry Group working collectively to generate real benefit for our communities in both metropolitan Perth and the remote regions in which we operate.
“The Gold Industry Group, on behalf of its member companies, has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion and we see important parallels between supporting the netball stars of today and tomorrow and in developing our own pipeline of female industry leaders.”
The partnership was announced at The Perth Mint today, with West Coast Fever players and staff, Netball WA staff and participants, Shooting Stars staff and participants joining Gold Industry Group members at the launch.
Gold Industry Group members supporting the partnership include Gold Fields, Northern Star Resources, Saracen Mineral Holdings, Newcrest Mining, St Barbara Limited, Newmont Australia, AngloGold Ashanti Australia, Gold Road Resources and Ramelius Resources.
