THAT last-gasp winning lay-up on Test debut was a Hollywood-style end to a remarkable year for Donnell Wallam, but the Queensland Firebirds’ shooter is eager to start the next chapter in her career.
The image of Wallam moments after her matchwinner against England in October last year has become iconic – her head tilted back, eyes closed and releasing a scream in a combination of joy and relief.
Yorta Yorta artist Alkina Edwards immortalised the moment, superimposing the image of a jubilant Wallam in her traditional style with the Diamonds’ colour palette as a base to the artwork.
It means Wallam has a personal treasure to mark a moment where she completed a remarkable nine-month rise from taking a chance to sign on as a replacement for Romelda Aiken-George with the Firebirds, to becoming an internationally capped player.
“During that time I didn't really say much, couldn't say much in the media, and then when that shot went in, I kind of just screamed out all the emotion that I was feeling,” Wallam said.
“When I look at that photo, it tells that story to me.
“It's very powerful and I always look at it and just remember that feeling.”
Handed the opportunity to play Suncorp Super Netball with Aiken-George taking a break from the game due to pregnancy, Wallam seized the chance with both hands.
A debut campaign ended with 519 goals at 86 per cent accuracy and the competition’s Rookie of the Year award.
Wallam was also named Australia’s Emerging Athlete of the Year at the AIS Sport Performance Awards.
A training partner for the Diamonds’ Commonwealth Games gold-medal winning campaign in Birmingham, the 29-year-old believes she’s coming into 2023 having learnt valuable lessons from that experience about what’s needed to win titles.
“It was so inspiring to see a team you’ve trained with get the ultimate success,” Wallam said.
“That is one of my biggest goals in 2023, to play finals with the Birdies and hopefully sometime – maybe this year – win a championship.
“I feel like I’m more prepared now. I know what I’m going into. Last year I was a bit of a deer in the headlights and I was just learning things as I went but now I feel I’m better prepared. I know what to expect.”
The Noongar woman is also determined to use her growing profile as inspiration to First Nations’ communities – whether in netball or any field.
“It’s part of my responsibility as a First Nations athlete to pave the way and help make the journey for the younger generation smoother, easier, culturally safer,” she said.
“Every time I think it’s getting too hard or feels like a burden I always think ‘you’re doing this for the next generation. I’m doing this so they don’t have to.’
“I’ve always said you can’t be what you can’t see, so when I’m out in communities if those young First Nations kids see somebody that looks like them achieving their dreams or playing sport at the highest level, they can see they’ve got a chance as well and that they can do it if they really want to.”
