In a celebration of elite women’s sport and the power of community connection, Netball NSW and the NSW Swifts Leadership Group were welcomed to NSW Parliament House last week, hosted by long-time netball advocate and Member for Wyong, the Hon. David Harris MP.
A passionate supporter of netball at all levels, Mr Harris invited the Swifts and key members of Netball NSW to visit Parliament to recognise their contributions to sport and discuss future opportunities for netball in the state.
The Swifts Leadership Group – Co-Captains Paige Hadley and Maddy Turner alongside Sarah Klau and Helen Housby – attended with Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle and High-Performance Manager Dani Mace, accompanied by Netball NSW representatives.
The group enjoyed a guided tour of Parliament House, took in the action of Question Time, and sat down for lunch at the Parliament House restaurant. A special moment of the visit came when the Swifts presented Mr Harris with a framed, signed Wing Attack bib from the 2025 team – a fitting addition to his growing collection of netball memorabilia, which already includes a Centre bib.
“Elite women's sport, demonstrating high-level physical prowess, smart tactical strategy and determination is the definition of entertainment,” said Mr Harris.
“I was honoured to host the NSW Swifts in Parliament of NSW together with representatives of Netball NSW.
“We discussed the 2027 Netball World Cup, the growth of netball and future opportunities. I thank Coach Briony Akle, Paige Hadley, Maddy Turner, Helen Housby and Sarah Klau, together with support staff who attended Question Time, toured Parliament and joined me for lunch.”
While touring Parliament House, the Swifts also met with Ms Linda Voltz MP (Member for Auburn), Mr Greg Warren MP (Member for Campbelltown), and Ms Kylie Wilkinson, Member for East Hills – all of whom acknowledged the positive impact netball has across NSW communities.
The visit highlighted the strong ties between Netball NSW and the state government – and the importance of growing that support. With record-breaking participation numbers in 2024, and the 2027 Netball World Cup fast approaching, visits like these are a vital reminder of netball’s growing influence – not just as a sport, but as a community builder and a key pillar in the advancement of women’s sport in NSW.
Article: Netball NSW
