When Tyler Campbell first volunteered at the Waiuku Netball Centre, she was sixteen – almost certainly the youngest person in the room. Starting out as a club delegate, she quickly took on junior coordination responsibilities, finding herself in committee meetings alongside life members with decades of experience. It wasn't always familiar territory, but it shaped a leadership philosophy that has stayed with her ever since: if something isn't working, find a way to make it work.
Now 22, Tyler serves as Vice President of Junior Clubs, coordinates the FutureFERNS programme, coaches a college team, and umpires every Saturday – all while working full-time and completing a Bachelor of Commerce.
It's a remarkable load for anyone – and her nominator, Volunteer Coordinator Kim Voight, says Tyler carries it with quiet, consistent excellence. Dedicating a minimum of six to eight hours per week, she is described as methodical, organised, trustworthy, and calm under the unpredictable pressure of a typical Saturday at the courts.
"Tyler is an outstanding and mature young leader. She copes extremely well with the varied and unpredictable events that occur and manages her responsibilities with a collaborative approach."
– Kim Voight, Volunteer Coordinator, Waiuku Netball Centre
Growing the game from the ground up
Tyler's most visible impact has been in the junior space. Under her leadership, the FutureFERNS Year 1 & 2 and Year 3 & 4 sessions have grown significantly. She provides detailed weekly training programmes, sends regular updates to families, and organises a well received end-of-season festival day for young players. She also actively supports her STAR helpers, and has gone out of her way to nominate them for volunteer awards of their own.
At the heart of it all is a simple personal goal: to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, included, and safe. For Tyler, that means constantly asking whether the rules and structures in place are genuinely serving the people they're meant to help and being willing to challenge them when they're not.
"My whole approach is asking: how can we make this a yes? There's always a way to open things up for more people, you just have to be willing to look for it," she says.
When a programme doesn't land the first time, she doesn't shelve it. She asks what needs to change to make it succeed the following year. That solution focused mindset, combined with her belief that young volunteers deserve a real seat at the decision making table, has helped shift what's possible at the centre.
Back yourself
For young people hesitating on the sideline, Tyler's advice is straightforward: just give it a go. "Being young in these spaces pushed me to work harder and prove myself and honestly, I think that drive has made me a better leader," she says.
"You don't have to know everything before you start. Just back yourself." She has been instrumental in developing youth volunteer opportunities at the centre, leading by example and building confidence in others the same way she built it in herself.
It's a philosophy she lives out every week. Whether she's running a FutureFERNS session, coaching college players, or working through a committee decision, Tyler brings the same passion: calm, committed, and always looking for the yes.
That sense of purpose runs through everything she does. She has watched players grow from Year 2 all the way through to college, knowing her work helped create that pathway. "It's all about the fun – the laughs, the development, the moment a kid suddenly gets it. That's why I'm here. I love giving other people opportunities. That's what drives all of it."
Congratulations Tyler, a well-deserved recognition for the passion and mahi you bring to Waiuku Netball every season. As our PIC Insurance Broker Volunteer of the Month, Tyler wins tickets, food and beverages and a special game-day walkthrough at an upcoming GoSweetSpot Mystics game, a fitting reward for someone who gives so much to the game she loves. A huge thank you to PIC Insurance Brokers for making this recognition possible and for celebrating the volunteers who make netball happen across the zone.
