400 up for Paula Birch

OCEAN GROVE Football Netball Club put the spotlight on a club legend last weekend to celebrate her 400th game of senior netball.

Hundreds of players, officials and fans came to watch Paula Birch play a starring role in her side’s 7-point D Grade victory over Torquay.

Birch was given a warm reception by the home crowd, who formed a guard of honour for her to run out through and held a special banner.

The Birch name has been synonymous with Ocean Grove netball for more than 30 years, with Paula first donning the red and white as a player in U/11’s in the early 1990’s.

Off the court, Birch has helped to develop the next generation of netball stars by coaching the club’s A, B and D Grade sides, along with the Under 19’s, 17’s, 15’s and 13’s.

Under her guidance, the Under 15’s Division 1 side was premiers in 2023.

Ocean Grove FNC netball co-ordinator Gill Hodgson said watching Birch have a best on ground performance in her milestone was fairytale-like.

“We were so rapt to be able to celebrate her on Saturday for her amazing contributions to the club.

“From climbing the big trees at Draper Street to come and watching her mum coach and play, to playing 400 games, what a phenomenal effort.

“Not only is it what she’s done on the court, but how amazing she is off the court, and how she’s become such a great role model for all of us.

“We are so proud of her and hope to have her around for many more years to come.”

Ocean Grove’s D Grade side has now cemented second place on the ladder, and a shot at the premiership is very well in reach.