Help Milne Bay Netball Team Reach Australia:

We need $39, 000 AUD to make this happen… It is mainly for travel costs and accommodation from Alotau to Darwin … but please know.. that if we can’t get there,  this money will be donated to the Milne Bay Province, island netball associations to support their netball programs. 

What started as a simple love of netball has grown into something truly special — a connection between communities in Australia and the remote islands of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. Over the past 4 years, with the incredible support of people and organisations in Hastings and beyond we have achieved many deliveries of equipment to the sports people of Milne Bay. This support has helped transform youth sport in the region. Today, 17 Island netball associations come together for an annual Milne Bay Netball Tournament, giving young people purpose, connection, and opportunity.

An Incredible Opportunity In September 2026:

The Rotary Top End Tournament committee has invited a Milne Bay Representative Team to compete in the Rotary Netball Tournament in Darwin.

This event will bring together:

• Australian grassroots teams

• First Nations teams

• And a Milne Bay (PNG) team

It’s more than sport — it’s a cultural exchange, a chance to build friendships, and an unforgettable experience for these young athletes.

Why We Need Help:

For the girls selected, the opportunity is life-changing but also out of reach without support.

Milne Bay is made up of remote islands where:

• Travel is by small boats across open ocean

• Poverty and limited access to education are daily realities

• Recent devastation from Cyclone Maila (Category 5) has made life even harder

The Goal

We need to raise funds to bring 10 players and 3 officials to Australia. Costs per person:

• Flights: $1,650 AUD

• Passports & visas: $650 AUD

accommodation and food for the group $11,000 AUD

Total needed: approx. $39,900 AUD or more in total..

While Rotary and other sponsors are helping with this amount, there is still a significant shortfall.

What Your Support Means:

Thanks to partnerships (including support from New Balance providing uniforms), the team already has:

• Playing uniforms

• Shoes

• Training gear

But without travel funding, they simply cannot get here.

Why It Matters:

Sport in the Pacific is more than a game — it’s:

• A pathway to hope

• A way to unite communities

• A positive outlet for youth facing limited opportunities

Your support will help these girls:

• Represent their islands with pride

• Experience a new culture

• Build confidence, expertise, lifelong memories and connections

This Journey to Australia isn't just about the 10 Under 17 girls team, and 3 officials we are trying to get here, it is about the community of Milne Bay as whole, as over the past 4 years, we have seen this community work together in ways we could learn from. They encourage each other to aim higher and dream bigger. Sport is the main positive outlet we see keeping the youth from being drawn to the negative challenges that come with lack of education/employment in a third world country.

IN THE UNFORTUNATE EVENT THAT WE CANNOT RAISE ENOUGH TO BRING THE TEAM TO DARWIN, OR IF WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO RAISE MORE THAN WE NEED, DONATIONS FROM THIS GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN WILL 

BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE 17 ISLAND NETBALL ASSOCIATIONS OF MILNE BAY TO HELP WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NETBALL IN THE PROVINCE 

✨ Be Part of Their Journey Every donation, big or small, brings this team one step closer to stepping onto the court in Australia. Let’s come together to give these young athletes the opportunity they deserve. Donate today and help make this dream a reality.