By Tyler Lewis
The names at Narre Warren Football Netball Club have filtered through generations.
Tonna, Dwyer, Toner, Stephenson and Mashado.
They’re just some of the names that have steered this club to such success on the field and courts over the years, never feeling the urgency to leave, and it’s a result of the club’s comprehensive culture.
One of the drivers to the successful and inclusive culture is Shelly Mashado, who is this week’s Volunteer of the Week.
Mashado has never been without a job over her 34 years at Kalora Park and has only spent time away from the club for the birth of her children.
“I had children, I have seven kids, I took a break on and off,” she said of her stints away from the club.
“I only got into coaching 12 years ago and it was one of my first coaching gigs here, apart from at Casey Stadium.
“At the moment I coach the under-13’s, the under-17’s and assist Erin (Bell) in the A Grade on game day.”
With ‘extras’ on the agenda for the benefit of the club’s culture, it ultimately results in more work for the volunteers.
But Mashado doesn’t think twice about her wide-ranging roles at the club, believing the hard-work eventually pays off.
“We do a lot of extras,” she said.
“We have taco Tuesday night, we have movie nights and we do Christmas in July, we do a lot of extras.
“Covid stopped us the last two years, but I like the club to be inclusive, as you know a club doesn’t just start by going home and leaving, we are all inclusive.
“We have a fantastic culture here. It is a family club and I think all the older families at the moment are waiting to see the next generation step up as well.”
When asked how clubs would function without volunteers, Mashado was confident in her response, revealing an army of volunteers and strong sponsors are the answer to a successful club.
“They won’t,” she said.
“Any club that doesn’t have volunteers put in and good sponsors… they’re not successful.
“You have to put in for your juniors and incorporate your seniors as well; we have a buddy day where we have a few buddy things we try and incorporate.”
By coaching the under-13’s and under-17’s, Mashado knows the trajectory of the club’s future first-hand.
With no favourites, Mashado is bullish on the under-17 group and is confident the club culture is the glue for keeping the strong players together.
“If you watch any of the under-17’s, that’s going to be our upcoming A Grade basically,” she said.
“There are kids that have been here since under-13’s, they could’ve gone elsewhere and these girls could’ve probably gone and played higher somewhere, but we love the club and the culture we bring in.
“They love playing for the dress, playing here.”
Saturday afternoon was an enormous day for netball in the Outer East, with the A Grade clash between Woori Yallock and Narre Warren being streamed online.
