The City of Ballarat is seeking community feedback on a proposal to formally recognise the legacy of one of Ballarat's most distinguished sporting figures, Sally McLean, by naming the netball courts at CE Brown Reserve in her honour.
The naming proposal has been submitted by the Lake Wendouree Football Netball Club in partnership with the McLean family, recognising Sally McLean's outstanding contribution to netball in Ballarat and her lasting impact within the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL).
Sally McLean served the Lake Wendouree Football Netball Club for more than a decade in various roles including U18 Coach, Senior Coach, Netball Coordinator and mentor. Under her leadership, the Lakers became a dominant force in the BFNL, with her teams consistently demonstrating excellence, humility and sportsmanship both on and off the court.
Sally's coaching career was marked by remarkable achievements, including 10 grand final appearances and 7 premierships. In 2010, the Lakers secured all four netball premierships on offer - a feat that remains unmatched. Her peers and BFNL officials regularly recognised her leadership, voting her "Coach of the Year" nearly every season of her tenure, while she was also nominated as Coach of the "BFNL Best Netball Team of 20 Years".
Beyond her coaching accolades, Sally's personal resilience inspired many. Despite facing serious illness and undergoing more than 11 operations, she missed only three games during her time as senior coach. Her unwavering commitment to her players and the sport exemplified courage, dedication and passion.
Sally retired from coaching in 2013 to focus on her family and health, and sadly passed away in 2015. Ten years on, her legacy continues to be deeply felt by the Lake Wendouree Football Netball Club and the wider Ballarat sporting community.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the naming proposal reflects the values and spirit of the Ballarat community.
"Sally was clearly widely respected for her leadership, integrity and enduring contribution to netball in the region, and that influence continues to resonate across the local sporting community," she said.
"Naming the netball courts in her honour would be a fitting tribute to a remarkable individual who gave so much to our city."
The proposal to name the netball courts the Sally McLean Courts coincides with the Club's 30th anniversary in 2025, making this a particularly meaningful time to honour her memory.
It also aligns with the Victorian Government's Remember a Local, Name a Place campaign, an initiative run by Geographic Names Victoria.
The campaign, launched last year, aims to ensure public spaces reflect Victoria's rich diversity and history by inviting the community to nominate people who have made a significant impact to the state or their community in areas like healthcare, science, the arts, sport or public service.
Victoria has set a target to have 70 per cent of all new commemorative place naming after women as part of Our Equal State, Victoria's Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027.
Community consultation on the proposed name is now open and runs until 1 December via mySay. Feedback from the community will help inform the final decision.
