Unsung heroes: Ludita McLean, the selfless mother giving back to junior sport

Behind every children’s sports team is a proud and passionate parent cheering from the sidelines, cutting up orange slices, filling up drink bottles and more often than not, coaching. In regional communities, sport can play a large role in one’s life, with athletes often finding a second family in a club they are fortunate enough to see through from juniors to masters leagues. Ensuring such a feat is possible for aspiring netballers is mother-of-three Ludita McLean who single-handedly developed the South Bunbury Junior Netball League. A high-level player in her own right, she started the junior netball campaign in 2019 after her eldest daughter expressed an interest in joining the sport. Having been a part of the coaching staff at the South Bunbury Netball Football League since 2007, leading a variety of teams including under 19s and seniors, she asked if she could start a junior league for the club. Initially a more internally school-based sport, she wanted local children to have a club experience they could follow through high school the same way basketball and football do. “(Children) get to high school and often don’t know where to go,” she said. “This way, I’m hoping that when they go to high school level, they can follow a club through (to senior level).” She said the social aspect of being involved in a club was also vital for young kids. “Having some way to go and making different friends is so important,” she said. “Last year, we had a team of nine and we had players from nine different schools. “It’s great because then when they get to high school, they know someone else when they’re in high school, they know other people from outside (school).” Growing up, she tried her hand at a multitude of sports, from hockey and volleyball to water polo and soccer, describing coaching as her own personal way to “give back” to the generous Bunbury sporting community she was raised in. “Most people that love sport will give back to the sport in some way. I’m lucky enough to be able to give back to it in coaching,” she shared. “I just love sport, that’s where I found I was happy . . . I just loved it. Always have. Always will. “Sport became my family, and now that I’ve got my own family . . . I want to give them the same opportunities.” Working as a physical education teacher at Bunbury Catholic College for 20 years, she was largely inspired by the many great coaches of her past and hopes to leave the same mark on the children she works with. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m a teacher — because of some of the fantastic coaches that I’ve had,” she said. “If I can give back in some way and make sport or exercise a positive experience or even be something that they might not do now, but might come back to later, then for me, that’s huge.” Working with teenagers to coach all sorts of high school teams in basketball and netball, she said it was integral young athletes had both social and competitive pathways in sport — opportunities she tried her best to encourage at SBNFC. “At that age, you’ve got that fine balance of children who decide ‘this is what I want to do’ and really want to go for it but you’ve also got the kids that just want to be a part of a team,” she said. “That’s one of the things that I’m trying to do with South Bunbury have the opportunity . . . so they can either go the skill development pathway, but they can also go a social pathway and just be involved.” Away from the court, Ludita has also been actively involved in several sporting committees including the Bunbury netball and Bunbury volleyball associations, also lending a hand as coaching staff to the West Australian Netball League side the Souwest Jets. A keen swimmer, she has also played an integral role in Royal Life Saving WA for the past two decades, having received a Meritorious Service Order for her dedication to the group. A credited Bronze Examiner in 2002 before becoming a first aid trainer in 2008, Ludita has been delivering Bronze Medallion, CPR and first aid courses across Bunbury since then, along with additional First Aid in Education and Care Setting courses. She also serves as an assessor for the School Teacher Aquatic Rescue course in Bunbury every year, combining her work and personal interests in one. A humble volunteer on all fronts, she admits her work does not go without help from many other dedicated parents also giving up their time. “It doesn’t matter which sport it is, there’s always a great team of people very passionate behind it,” she said. “Things don’t run unless you have volunteers and I’m so thankful to all the parents and family and volunteers who give up their time to get involved and make it happen. “Growing up, their work have made my experience so memorable and that’s what I hope my service to be doing for other people.”