The Brunswick Byron Netball Association has been awarded a $20,000 grant to help build a weather shelter at the Mullumbimby courts.
Lisa Alexander, coach of the world champion Australian team, was on hand to help make the official presentation of the grant money in Mullumbimby last month.
The super coach also made time to give a host of local juniors some training and fitness tips.
Brunswick Byron Netball Association applied for a grant through ANZ Netball Nation.
There were four grants of $20,000 up for grabs Australia wide.
The proposed shelter will protect players and spectators from both the hot and wet weather, grants coordinator for the BBNA Julie Ryan said.
Council is also contributing roughly $20,000 in cash and in-kind support, she said.
Planning approval is in place for the shelter that will sit between the courts and the adjacent cricket oval.
If all goes to plan construction will begin this year so the shelter can be ready for use by the beginning of next season, she said.
Part of the grant application was through a video presentation that featured local junior players explaining why the shelter was needed.
This video and the fact that the BBNA was ready to move ahead with the project helped get the grant request over the line, Julie said.
Being awarded the grant was ‘pretty exciting and pretty hard to believe,’ she said.
It was an Australia-wide program, ‘so you expect not to get it,’ she said.
The BBNA includes five clubs: Mullumbimby, Byron Bay, Bangalow, Ocean Shores and Main Arm, and includes 360 registered players.
You can view the video at youtu.be/lsAN4M-k3i4.
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