New netball pavilion at Western Park named after local legend Liza Pharaoh

Following its $1.6 million redevelopment by Baw Baw Shire Council, the new netball pavilion at Western Park has been named after local legend Liza Pharaoh with Baw Baw Mayor Annemarie McCabe advising “as an organisation we are truly privileged to be able to name the new pavilion at Western Park, the Liza Pharaoh Pavilion.”

The name Liza Pharaoh has long been a part of netball in Warragul, located south-east of Melbourne. With a career spanning 20-plus years and 382 games, Pharaoh was an inspiration to not only her teammates but the broader community; and now her name will be a permanent fixture at the Western Park netball courts where she spent so many hours throughout her playing and coaching career.

Pharaoh’s long and illustrious career included 12 best and fairest awards, and six runners up finishes. She was also a key part of two premierships with Gippsland Storm, the regions elite developmental netball club.

Pharaoh’s career was capped with her Warragul Industrials life membership in 2008, but her contributions did not stop there, with coaching and mentoring the next generation of netballers firmly in her sights.

In 2018 the netball club created the Liza Pharaoh Perpetual Trophy in her honour. It reads, “we are who we are because of your friendship, we are who we are because of your years of dedication, we fight the way we fight because of your courage.”

Although very much a champion on the court, it was her impact off the court that truly left its mark - including through the Pharaoh’s Secret Angels, a charity set up by Pharaoh that raises funds to support local cancer patients.

Pharaoh’s long-time friend and teammate, Kate Farrell, cherished her time spent with Liza, saying “we are all so proud of your achievements, you fitted so much into your time on earth, and the impact you have left on everyone is remarkable, but not surprising.”

“Words will never be enough to express how much you meant to me. Our time together was too short, but I am forever grateful that you were in my life.”

A highly respected netballer, friend and community member, Pharaoh sadly passed away in May of 2021.

Baw Baw Shire Council unanimously voted to name the recently constructed pavilion after Liza following a submission that was made by the club to Council’s Place Names Advisory Committee, which provides advice and recommendations on place-naming matters to Council.

The naming proposal garnered huge amounts of support, both online and via written submission, and now endorsed will be celebrated as part of the official opening of the redeveloped netball facilities at Western Park.

Council’s call for notable women’s names
After conducting a collaborative survey from Geographic Names Victoria and Gender Equity Victoria, Council’s Place Names Advisory Committee is eager to uncover notable women’s names for future projects in the Shire to help address the disparity between male and female named features, such as parks, reserves, streets, and other public features.

Baw Baw Mayor Annemarie McCabe adds “Liza was a standout both on and off the court and made a positive impact wherever she went. It was clear from the comments and feedback we received about the naming proposal that this was an easy decision.

“We hope that naming the pavilion after Liza honours the cherished memories that so many have of their time spent with her and helps to inspire the next generation of netballers to achieve great things.”

Community members wishing to make a naming suggestion can do so on Council’s website.

Image top: Friends, teammates and club representatives joined Liza's mum Carol at the newly constructed Western Park netball pavilion that will be named in Liza's honour: (from left) Kate Farrell, Skye Lennon, Nicky McDonald, Natalie Bright, Laura McCullough, Carol Pharaoh, Natasha Davis, Gillian Walsh, Shaun McCullough, Shane Ingham, Nikki Beilharz; image above: The newly constructed netball pavilion and courts at Western Park, following a $1.6 million redevelopment by Baw Baw Shire Council.