Meet NSW Goalball Referee... Louise!

1. Louise stands in her green Goalball Referee shirt with coach Andrew next to a NSW Goalball banner.
2. Louise wearing her green Goalball Referee shirt stands on court with players smiling while checking their eyeshades at the start of a game at the 2025 NSW State Championships.

Hi, I'm Louise!

I live with my family in the country town of Tamworth. When my eldest son was diagnosed with Cone Rod Dystrophy at a young age, we faced many challenges and uncertainties about his future. In 2015 he attended a Blind Sports NSW Camp, where he met a wonderful group of kids his age, each with different levels of eyesight. Being introduced to the possibility of playing sport was truly a game changer for him. One of the sports played at camp was Goalball. It was clear that goalball was more than just a game; it was a source of joy, confidence, and connection.

In 2016, I began driving down to Strathfield in Sydney for the DTM cup, then the State Championships and onto Nationals. Goalball is strategic, emotional, challenging, and incredibly fun to watch. It quickly became a passion for both of us. I started to learn more about how goalball works and how I could introduce it to our local community. We have showcased blind sports in our rural town and started up the Tamworth/New England Goalball Hub with regular training and games.

Goalball creates a purpose, a resilience, a sense of belonging, strong friendships, personal growth, and a welcoming community.

Being part of NSW Goalball fills me with pride, and it is exciting to witness the development of these talented athletes. Becoming an IBSA Goalball Referee and Manager for the Australian Men’s Team has given me the opportunity to support our athletes further in reaching their goals. Traveling with players across Australia and overseas has been a true privilege.

Now, as a member and Chair of the NSW Board, I look forward to gaining an even deeper understanding of the sport and am thankful to be working alongside a strong team that will strengthen Goalball for all, ensuring that it continues to thrive and inspire others to play and become involved.

See you on the court!