Grant provides team with vital boost

Ohaeawai School's netball players are, from left, standing, Charlee Littin, Sofia Le Noel, Chelsea Birchall, Eden Carter-Edwards, Willow Roberts, Callum Beazley; sitting, Bailey Rihari, Stella Littlefair, Cassandra Ferguson, and Willow Alderton.Photo/Supplied

Ohaeawai Primary School has scored a $1000 ANZ netball grant.

The grant, which includes playing uniforms, balls and bibs, will mean the school's netball team will have matching gear this season.

Coach Sarah Stevenson said the grant was a real boost for the team.

"Ohaeawai School started playing netball for the first time this year. We have 25 children travelling to Kaikohe every week to play and they're really beginning to love the game," Ms Stevenson said.

"Before receiving this grant we didn't have uniforms or bibs and only rubber balls, but now we look like a real team. It's led to a boost in team spirit and has definitely got the interest of other children at school."

This year ANZ is awarding $100,000 of netball grants to help clubs, schools, social teams and fans around the country get more from their favourite sport.

Carly Robson from ANZ Kaitaia said the bank launched the programme to help Kiwi netballers achieve their goals.

"The ANZ netball grant scheme was set up to support all levels of the game, from social teams who play for fun, through to aspiring professionals.

"The students at Ohaeawai Primary really impressed us with their enthusiasm for netball. This year the school organised a special training session with professional players from Netball Northern, which led to a bunch of kids wanting to take up the game and the new netball programme put in place."