At Fowler’s Group, we’re proud to support and celebrate organisations that make a lasting impact in our community—like the Leprechauns Netball Club.
Founded in 1979 by Jill Fowler and Verdi Reid in Gordonvale, Leprechauns has grown from a single A Grade team into the largest and most successful club in Cairns Netball history. A founding member of the Cairns Netball Association, the club has deep roots in the region and a strong legacy of junior development.
With 180 players taking the court across all junior and senior grades this year, Leprechauns continues to thrive—thanks to a passionate community and long-standing partnerships, including their inaugural and current major sponsor, Brothers Cairns World of Entertainment.
We’re inspired by the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent and creating pathways for future sporting success. Many of today’s A Grade players began their netball journey with Leprechauns as juniors—a true testament to their development focus.
Fowler’s Group is proud to acknowledge Leprechauns Netball Club as part of our community. Here’s to continued growth, strong values, and generations of netball success to come!
Jill Fowler’s involvement in the Leprechauns community
The Leprechauns Netball Club wouldn’t exist without Jill Fowler. For over 40 years, she was the driving force behind one of Cairns’ most recognisable sporting organisations, building it from the ground up into a community institution that continues to thrive today.
The Founding Years
In 1979, Jill founded the Leprechauns Netball Club. The following year, she co-founded the Cairns Netball Association, and the Leprechauns became one of its foundation members. Today, the club remains one of only two original foundation clubs still operating—a testament to the solid groundwork Jill established.
From those early days, Jill’s vision was clear: create a space where young people could develop their skills, build friendships, and be part of something bigger than themselves.
Three Decades of Leadership
Jill served as Leprechauns president for over 30 years, a remarkable tenure that shaped the club’s identity and values. Her son Jason recalls, “The biggest thing about mum was that she thought about someone else, long before she thought about herself and she never wanted anything in return, she just gave everything unselfishly.”
During her presidency, Jill wore many hats:
- Club administrator and organiser
- Coach for multiple teams
- Representative coach
- Mentor to emerging coaches
- Member of Cairns Netball grading and fixtures committee
The Pink Revolution
Perhaps one of Jill’s most memorable decisions was turning the Leprechauns pink. As Jason explains, “The best decision they ever made, they weren’t originally but she turned them pink. Looking back, because pink wasn’t the greatest marketing colour back then, it has got to be the greatest thing she ever did.”
The strategy worked brilliantly. “Every little kid, every little girl wants to play for the pink team,” Jason said. The distinctive colour became synonymous with the club, creating an instantly recognisable brand that attracted young players across Cairns.
Coaching Philosophy and Mentorship
Jill’s approach to coaching was characterised by patience, encouragement, and a genuine desire to see others succeed. Current Leprechauns president Kym McPhee-Smith, who was coached by Jill for nearly 20 years, remembers her style well.
“She was really calm and had a really great form of communication and her delivery was very gentle,” McPhee-Smith said. “She was able to get the best out of players when she coached them, also was able to inspire and motivate people around her so they could be the best version of themselves.”
But Jill’s mentorship extended beyond her own teams. “She coached coaches and spent time teaching other people,” Jason noted. She understood that developing coaching talent across the entire Cairns netball community would strengthen the sport for everyone.
Commitment to Junior Development
If there’s one area where Jill’s impact will be felt for generations, it’s in junior development. “Junior development is the legacy she will leave for Leps Netball,” McPhee-Smith said.
Jill was present at junior games throughout the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday nights—offering guidance, encouragement, and support. She mentored coaches, helped with grading, and ensured every young player had the opportunity to develop their skills. McPhee-Smith remembers how Jill would be there at every game, watching, advising, and making sure the young players were getting what they needed to improve.
Her commitment wasn’t limited to Leprechauns players either. Jason recalls, “Mum would never turn anyone away but she was very conscious that Leprechauns wasn’t Cairns Netball and she had to encourage players to other clubs because otherwise there wouldn’t be a competition if everyone just wanted to play for Leps.”
This approach showed real strategic thinking. Jill understood that if the Leprechauns became too dominant, if every talented player gravitated to the pink team, the competition would suffer. Other clubs would struggle. Games would become one-sided. The entire netball community would be weaker for it. So she actively encouraged some players to join other clubs, even when it might have strengthened her own team to keep them.
“She didn’t offend anyone, to her, every kid deserved to have an opportunity, kids needed to be coached,” Jason said. It wasn’t about building an empire. It was about building a sustainable netball community where multiple clubs could thrive, where competition remained strong, and where every child—regardless of which club they played for—had access to good coaching and development opportunities.
This selfless approach—prioritising the health of the broader netball community over her own club’s dominance—exemplified Jill’s character. She saw the bigger picture and was willing to make decisions that benefited the sport as a whole, even when it meant passing up short-term advantages for the Leprechauns.
Continued Involvement
Even after stepping down as president nine years ago, Jill remained actively involved with the club. She continued serving on the committee, volunteering across different areas, and remained on the Cairns Netball grading and fixtures committee until this year.
“Every game she was there,” McPhee-Smith said. “She was a mentor for me when I started coaching from 2005 till now. She has been a mentor to so many coaches at the Leprechauns Netball Club.”
Recognition and Honours
Jill’s contributions were formally recognised in several ways:
- Jill Fowler Court: Cairns Netball named Court 8 in her honour
- Junior Club Person Award: The Leprechauns named their junior award after Jill
- Life Member: Recognised as a life member of Cairns Netball
These honours reflect the enormous impact she had, not just on the Leprechauns, but on netball throughout the region.
A Family Within a Family
The Fowler family often joked that Jill had two families—her own family and her netball family. “To mum, everyone was part of the family, sure Leprechauns were biggest passion but she just loved kids, netball and enjoying sport,” Jason said.
This inclusive spirit created a welcoming environment where players, parents, and volunteers all felt valued. As McPhee-Smith put it, “There would not be one person who could ever say that their relationship or experience with Jill wasn’t positive.”
Jill Fowler’s involvement with Leprechauns Netball Club spanned more than four decades and touched countless lives. She built more than a successful sporting club—she created a community where young people could grow, learn, and belong. Her legacy lives on in every player who pulls on the pink uniform, every coach she mentored, and every family who finds their place within the Leprechauns community.
As McPhee-Smith simply stated: “She was Cairns Netball.”
