The Gawler and District Netball Association has been providing netball competition to the community since the 1930’s.

Our Vision:

Our vision is to be respected and valued as a worthy provider of netball in the community.

Our Mission:

Provide a netball competition in a friendly and safe environment, whilst supporting all clubs in the Association.

Encourage participation at all levels of ability, and to develop players and officials to their full potential.

Our Association

Our History

The Gawler and District Netball Association has a rich history dating back to the 1930’s. One only needs to walk into the clubrooms and admire the long list of club names on the Honour Board to recognise that GDNA has been a constant for many girls, women and their families in the community.

Over the years many clubs have been affiliated with GDNA, which has contributed to its history and success. Club names well known to the community like Tod Street, GASC, St Georges and Wasleys, which was led by well-known local Mr Douglas Hillman.

On his watch, the team won 11 A grade and a number of minor grade premierships. Doug was made a Life Member to the Gawler & District Netball Association in 1985, for his services and commitment to the Netball Association, where he also served on the Management Committee for many years. The Wasleys Netball Club was unfortunately disbanded in approximately 2002, yet Doug remained active at the netball courts each week in setting up every Saturday and was one of the last to leave at the end of the day.

Likewise GASC who were formed from the Amateur Swimming Club and St Georges, a strong Church team were both clubs led and strengthened by strong community based identities and their families – names such as Mrs Val Clark and Mrs Judith Clinch who were both long serving Association members as President and Publicity Officer respectively.

Many schools also started their netball programs with GDNA such as Gawler Primary School, St Jakobi and Trinity College. St Joseph’s grew and developed into Xavier College, who continue with a large member base.

Today, GDNA coordinates netball over the entire year, with the traditional winter season played on Saturday’s and twilight netball (which was introduced in 1983) played during the summer, recently expanding to two nights a week.

Clubs such as Lutheran and Virginia continue to champion netball in the Gawler region, while newest club Sandy Creek Netball Club, brings a new generation to the courts. Gumnuts Netball Club also has a long history in Gawler and is lead by Julie Tester. Julie Tester personifies the perfect netball volunteer.

GDNA has proven to be a resilient Association and continues to advocate for a netball in the Gawler region. The only time GDNA has been in recess, was in the period of World War II and most recently 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.