Netball comes a-courtin’

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE’S new netball courts were officially opened on Saturday by Yarra Ranges Council mayor Terry Avery
Healesville Football Netball Club president Kym Escort welcomed official guests headed by former Healesville junior footballer and former West Coast Eagles star, David Wirrpanda.
Joining the Healesville and Warburton netballers on the new courts were Seymour MP Cindy McLeish representing Sports Minister Hugh Delahunty, along with YVMDFNL president Graeme Tuplin, Leonie Gibson from Netball Victoria, and Healesville Lions Club president Bert Bresser and members Maurie and Mary Gray, and Wurundjeri elder and former Healesville netballer Joy Murphy-Wandin.
Ms Murphy-Wandin said her family had a long association with football and netball in Healesville.
She acknowledged the support of Netball Australia and Netball Victoria with whom she worked with the club to ensure the safety and comfort of players.
Mr Wirrpanda spoke of his own aspirations. He said beginning a sporting career in somewhere like the Yarra Valley was no reason for anyone to think they could not achieve their dreams.
“I was a young boy running around on that oval and decided I wanted to be an AFL footballer,” he said.
“The challenge is one day you guys could go on and play for the Vixens or Fever, or whoever you want to play for,” he said.
He spoke of the David Wirrpanda Foundation’s Dare to Dream Program, which is aimed at building strong, independent girls and women and addresses issues of self-esteem, healthy relationships, sexual and women’s health, drug and alcohol abuse, healthy lifestyles and future direction.
“I love being back here,” he said.
Ms McLeish said netball was a sport that women had embraced that could be followed through from a young age for virtually a life-time.
“Sport is important in bringing communities together and is a great social leveller,” she said.
Cr Avery said the netball courts were a great addition to the Don Road Sporting Complex.
“It’s unheard of to see football, netball and soccer being played in one complex. There is no doubt you would be envy of a lot of other clubs in the urban areas of the shire,” he said.
Having the netball and football together was good for the families involved, he said, and there would be advantages for the wider community with the courts also to be used by local schools.
“One of the great things about this is that football and netball finals will now be able to be held in the same precinct,” Cr Avery said.
The courts were paid for by Yarra Ranges Council, Healesville Football Netball Club and the State Government with a grant from the Lions Club of Healesville for player shelters.