Lifeline Supersaint Grace Waterson has been integral to the club in many different ways.
By Ben Andonoudis
Every sporting club has people who become part of the fabric. They are the people who make the club what it is. Every week they work as hard as they possibly can so the players and supporters can enjoy their Saturdays. At St Albans Football Netball Club, Grace Waterson has been doing exactly that for two decades.
Across her tenure, Waterson has been a player, a coach, player wellbeing officer and child safeguarding officer amongst other positions. All these different responsibilities have led to her impact at the Supersaints extending far beyond the court.
“Grace has dedicated countless hours to coaching junior and senior players, mentoring umpires, and fostering a culture of resilience, wellbeing and inclusion,” Wilson said.
Waterson’s contribution to the culture of the Supersaints is perhaps her best achievement. Building a strong culture at any local sporting club is essential to ensuring that it is a place where people want to be. And at St Albans Waterson is one of those individuals who has been integral to the values that the club lives by.
“Grace Waterson is the embodiment of commitment, leadership and community spirit at the St Albans Football Netball Club,” Wilson said.
Like many great volunteers, Waterson’s connection to the Supersaints started as a player but it quickly became something bigger. From her days on the court as an Under 11’s player Waterson has remained a constant presence around the Supersaints.
As Co-President Virginia Wilson explains, once Waterson hit the court for that first game, she never left.
“Grace has remained a proud One Club Member, playing more than 250 senior games, some at the highest level in A Grade netball,” Wilson said.
In her time at the Supersaints, Waterson has fulfilled multiple roles.
“She wears a lot of different hats, and she does a lot of the things that people don’t see,” Wilson said.
While people can have a multitude of reasons for volunteering at a local sporting club, the motivation for Waterson is simple.
“She’s very passionate about the club and just wants the club to be successful,” Wilson said.
Even after becoming a mother earlier this year, the connection to the Supersaints has remained as strong as ever for Waterson. After having a child in May it wasn’t long before Waterson was back around the Supersaints, keeping up the contribution she has made for two decades.
“She’s continued to do everything she does for the club,” Wilson said.
It is a sign of her dedication to the club and one that showcases how vital she is to the Supersaints. Waterson’s dedication has been exemplified in her title of the club’s Child Safeguarding Officer. It is a role that allows her to draw on her own professional and personal experience in education support and foster care. And it is one that she does well.
“Grace brings compassion, care and advocacy to the role,” Wilson said.
Over two decades, Waterson has given countless time and energy to the Supersaints. It is a contribution that cannot be measured by games played or roles held, but by the culture she has helped to develop.
And that is what makes her a Female Club Champion.