Diamond Valley Basketball Association (DVBA) was proud to attend the Bendigo Community Bank Nillumbik Women in Sport Breakfast at the Eltham Community and Reception Centre, an inspiring event celebrating leadership, mentorship, and the growth of women in sport.
The breakfast featured keynote speaker Zoe Carr, High-Performance Head Coach for Basketball Victoria Country Women and a national leader in athlete development. Zoe shared her journey and insights on leadership for the next generation, highlighting how mentorship, opportunity, and connection are shaping the future of women and girls in sport. Her talk resonated strongly with our association, reinforcing the importance of nurturing female athletes and leaders within our basketball community to engage and retain female athletes.
The panel of sporting professionals provided further inspiration: Natalie Wood, Senior Coach of Essendon AFLW, shared her experiences in elite coaching; Sylvia Metcalfe, Treasurer of Eltham Rugby Club, discussed leadership and building local sport through community connections; and Mona Chaudhary, President of Plenty Valley Cricket Club, highlighted the value of community-driven initiatives for women and girls in sport. One of the MC’s for the panel was Eagles own Asher Porqueddu.
In addition to hearing from these amazing leaders, the event celebrated local “Champions of Change” through an award ceremony recognizing individuals (and clubs) making a tangible impact in promoting women in sport. This year our very own Raquel Connell was a recipient of one of these awards.
“The Nillumbik Champions of Change Award recognises individuals and groups who make significant contributions to the community, particularly in reconciliation, inclusion and sustainability. The award celebrates outstanding service and the positive impact these community members have on the lives of Nillumbik residents, honouring those who go above and beyond to support a more inclusive and connected community.”
For DVBA, events like this are a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting women in coaching, officiating, and leadership roles. We left the breakfast inspired and motivated to continue fostering opportunities for female players, coaches, and leaders across our association.
