From cartwheels to commitment

At the dawn of the 2025 netball season, the Under 8s team at the Currambine Netball Club faced a crisis: no coach. Among the new arrivals to Perth was Louis Holtzhausen, Lead Quantity Surveyor at Melchor, who had just moved his family from Abu Dhabi to Australia in search of fresh beginnings, an adventurous lifestyle, and community connection. 

“Before we even arrived, we made the decision that Australia would be our home,” Louis said.  

“With that came a commitment – to give back to this incredible country that welcomed us and gave our family the opportunity to thrive,” Louis said. 

Louis had never played netball. In fact, he’d grown up in a boys’ rugby school, surrounded by scrums and tackles, not goal circles and bibs. But with two young daughters now calling the shots on his weekends, he knew his sporting life was about to take a very different turn. 

So, with zero experience but a whole lot of heart, Louis raised his hand. He signed up to coach the team, completed his Netball Australia certification, and braced himself for the whirlwind ahead. 

The first training session was... memorable. Seven- and eight-year-olds cartwheeled across the court, giggled through drills, and treated the game like recess with bibs. Louis quickly discovered that coaching netball wasn’t just about learning the rules – it was about learning how to lead with patience, creativity, and a sense of humour. 

Week by week, Thursday training and Saturday games became more than just a schedule. They became a rhythm for growth. Louis wasn’t just teaching passes and pivots; he was instilling values of teamwork, resilience, and grit. Missed goals became moments of encouragement, and slowly, the cartwheels gave way to commitment. 

“What I love most about coaching netball is watching the players grow – not just in skill, but in spirit,” Louis said.  

“You see friendships form, confidence build, and a real sense of camaraderie take shape, not just among the kids but the parents too.  

“It’s also a chance to pass on simple life lessons like resilience, teamwork, and kindness that I hope will shape them into incredible young people.” 

What started as a reluctant leap into the unknown became a defining chapter for the Holtzhausen family. Coaching helped them settle into Perth life, connect with other families, and build a sense of belonging in a new community. 

“My youngest daughter had a tough experience with netball early on, and it really put her off,” Louis said.  

“But when I stepped in as coach, something shifted. She was excited to give it another go and proud to be on Dad’s team. 

“It’s brought us all closer and it’s something we now share. We even installed a netball hoop in our front garden, and whenever we have a spare moment, it’s full-on hoop shooting and defending. Kids from the street, many of whom are on my team, join in too.” 

Less than a year in, Louis is already all-in, coaching with the kind of dedication that promises he’s in it for the long haul. His daughters are thriving on the court, and his wife has become the heartbeat of the club’s social scene, supporting the coaching team and rallying the community. 

As Louis often says, quoting Arthur Gordon: “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” In Currambine, that giving turned one dad into a local legend.