A wholehearted and passionate drive to transform the fortunes of her regional netball association has led to Nanango’s Katie Mangan being awarded Netball Queensland’s Spirit of Netball award for 2022.
Mangan was announced at the winner of the coveted prize at the 2022 NQ Awards in Brisbane on Saturday after a year where she revitalised the Nanango and District Netball Association.
Assuming the president’s role at the AGM in February with the association in urgent need of assistance, Mangan was at the heart of a rise from zero registered members with the association in 2021 to 110 in 2022.
Participating in almost every aspect of the club’s operations from helping in the canteen to buying fruit from the local supermarket for Woolworths NetSetGO clinics, Mangan’s efforts also included Nanango hosting Netball Queensland’s Little Nettys pilot program in July.
“Katie’s tireless work spearheading an exciting growth for the Nanango and District Netball Association makes her a hugely deserving winner of the Spirit of Netball award,” Netball Queensland General Manager Netball Glenn Dennis said.
“This award is all about recognising individuals who demonstrate a commitment to Netball Queensland’s values while significantly contributing to the growth, development, sustainability and delivery of netball.
“There is no doubt the turnaround for Nanango and District Netball Association reflects those parameters with Katie’s influence in just a few months essential to that transformation.”
Mangan was just one of several award winners recognised at the event from a field of over 300 nominees, with Nanango and District Netball Association also being named the Woolworths NetSetGO Centre of the Year.
Other winners including Flinders Netball Club’s Meegan Livingstone being named Community Coach of the Year, Mount Isa Amateur Netball’s Kodie Kuskopf taking out the Official of the Year prize and Western Districts Netball Association claiming the title of Community Organisation of the Year.
The NQ Awards was held after Saturday’s successful Netball Queensland Leaders Conference Lite where community leaders and members of the state’s 78 member associations and their clubs explored current developments, innovations, practices and research to guide the sport’s path through 2023 and beyond.
NQ AWARDS – 2022 WINNERS
Spirit of Netball - Katie Mangan (Nanango and District Netball Association)
Community Coach of the Year - Meegan Livingstone (Flinders Netball Club)
Official of the Year - Kodie Kuskopf (Mt Isa Amateur Netball)
Performance Official of the Year - Dianne Fawcett
Teacher of the Year - Deanne Hamilton (Canterbury College)
Spirit of Netball (Youth) - Emma Frohmuller (Caloundra District Netball Association)
Inclusion in Netball - Nicole Robinson (Darling Downs Netball Association)
Community Innovation - Diane Harner (Raiders All Stars Netball Club/Downey Park Netball Association)
Woolworths NetSetGO Centre of the Year -Nanango and District Netball Association
Netball School of the Year - Glenala State High School
Community Organisation of the Year (more than 500 people) - Western Districts Netball Association
Community Organisation of the Year (less than 500 people) - Sarina and District Netball Association Inc.
