Thanks to a Active Regional Communities Initiative Grants from the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries, Volleyball WA was able to spend a week in the Great Southern  running school clinics and talking to LGA’s and venues about accessing more courts.

We ran four school clinics at the Albany Senior High School, Bethel Christian College and Flinders Park Primary School plus an open session for 24 juniors at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre. Participants, teachers, parents and the Albany Volleyball Association welcomed the introduction of fresh ideas from our Perth based coach.

Our fact-finding meetings with LGA’s revealed a willingness to add courts markings to existing courts, potential bowling green conversations to beach courts, equipment sales and opportunities for our local clubs to deliver more programs to the community. The addition of increased places to play in the region would be a positive outcome from our visit to the region and help us build the sport’s popularity and capacity in the future.

We were also invited to attend the opening of the new Denmark beach volleyball courts on Saturday, February 25. There was a significant turn out which included three local councillors and a representative from the Denmark Recreation Centre.

The courts were made possible through the support of the Shire of Denmark and many local volunteers who helped to build them. They are part of the local sports precinct enjoying high visibility and have already had their first external booking from SEDA College.

The club used the opening as an opportunity to thanks supporters, recruit new players for their social competition and do some fundraising. We were honoured to be invited to be a part of this occasion and look forward to seeing how the sport grows in the area.

Volleyball WA will also visit the region again May to meet with the Association Committees and run a Referee Development session before the start of the indoor volleyball season.

The State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is a major supporter of the Volleyball WA Great Southern Development Trip in Western Australia. Sport and recreation creates vibrant, inclusive and connected WA communities.