Launch of new clash dress

StLukesHealth Karana Media Release

Wednesday 12 July 2017

Pushing Women’s Sport’s Professionalism

Patricia Di Carlo –
Karana Flames Netball Club President

· Women’s sport is becoming more professional and at a local level; netball is leading the charge.

· St.LukesHealth has provided sponsorship funds that have paid for clash-strip uniforms.

· The Club has also embarked on significant coaching restructure, preseason strength and condition program, and club culture programs rivalling any local football team.

Off the back of significant efforts to improve the professional culture of the women’s sport in Tasmania, the Karana Flames Netball Club is excited to release their new clash-strip uniforms to be used in this weekend’s Tasmanian Netball League match of the round.

Club President, Patricia Di Carlo, said our netball club has had a focus of improving all aspects of its professionalism.

“Adding the clash-strip provides that sense of growth externally,” Ms Di Carlo said.

“It is important that woman’s sport in Tasmania is recognised for its development of young women into athletes; but our club has taken the view that we can’t sit back and allow other sports to syphon our best talent if we aren’t going to help ourselves by leading the way.

“St.LukesHealth has been a long-time partner of the Club, and has recognised the growth that we are having and have provided sponsorship funds in part to assist in the purchase of the clash-strip uniform.

“Not only has the support from St.LukesHealth assisted in the clash-strip purchase; but we’ve also been able to invest in a restructured coaching panel, develop a full pre-season strength and conditioning program, and employ John Fletcher of Good to Great Tasmania to develop our cultural and leadership values of the TNL teams and club.”

Grayson Genders, Manager Brand and Marketing of St.LukesHealth, in presenting the new look uniform to the Club said, the relationship with Karana is long standing, as it is with many other sporting clubs across the State and we seek to help all Tasmanians achieve their health and fitness goals.

“We believe it’s important to support Netball in Tasmania and for the sport to provide a professional development pathway for its’ players,” Mr Genders said.

“It’s more than buying uniforms, we want to ensure there is an opportunity for netball players to grow and for the sport to present itself as viable pathway for players to become high performing professional sportspeople.”

Ms Di Carlo said with such strong participation levels in junior and social ranks, the re-introduction of Tasmania into the ANL, the rise of the Super Netball League, and the promotion of star netball players such as Ash Brazill and Sharni Layton as children’s role models, we have an opportunity to build a missing link to top tier netball.

“Our Club is committed to pushing the boundaries on what was previously considered professionalism in the aim that all TNL clubs follow suit to ensure that link has a solid foundation,” Ms Di Carlo said.