Photos: Supplied.
FROM ACTION INDOOR SPORTS ARENA
Imagine you are a 12-year-old girl. Imagine you are very good at your chosen sport; you are selected to represent Australia at the Junior World Cup for Indoor Netball in New Zealand in July. Imagine that because Mum is a widow working full-time to support this 12-year-old girl and pay for all her extracurricular activities, she may not be able to afford to participate.
Wynnum High School Year 7 student Ciena Wallis has excelled at every sport she has played. Ciena is an excellent swimmer who holds numerous pool records at her swimming club, the Wynnum Wahoos. While in primary school, her sports teacher called on her on many occasions to fill in for various sports, including rugby league and touch football, and she played in interschool carnivals.
From the age of four, she has been a permanent fixture at Action Indoor Sports Arena, Wynnum, and has always played with much older children and adults. She has played Super League in under-16s since she was 10 and was selected for representative indoor netball the past two years but was unable to play due to injuries.
When COVID-19 hit, all indoor netball centres were forced to close. However, outdoor netball was allowed, so Ciena decided to give it a try. Her indoor netball skills were a great advantage for her as a rookie, and she was soon playing with older players. Last year, and again this year, she was chosen to represent the Redlands Outdoor Netball at the State Championships in Townsville after only a couple of years’ experience.
Towards the end of 2023, Ciena finally got to play in a State Championship, where her Queensland team won both 6s and 7s. She was named in the 13-and-under Rubies at the Junior World Cup starting on July 19 in Auckland, New Zealand. Her usual position is goal attack or goal shooter, although she is a very versatile player and can fill any position.
Last year Ciena was named Sportsperson of the Year at Wynnum Primary School, and also Sportsperson of the Year at Redlands Outdoor Netball. She was also the Age Champion at several swimming carnivals.
Having a multi-talented 12-year-old is a very expensive exercise, and while the Action Indoor Sports Arena has shown support by holding raffles and money boards, any benevolent businesses or individuals who would be willing to assist would be greatly appreciated. If this is you, please contact Action Indoor Sports Arena for details.
