Geelong marks a century of netball

October 19, 2024 BY
Geelong Netball Centenary

Madi Browne, Jaimee Van Leerdam and Chris Browne made up part of the guest speaking panel. Photos: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

PAST players, coaches, umpires and members of the Geelong Central Netball Association (GCNA) gathered on Sunday as they celebrated 100 years of netball in Geelong.

More than 100 people attended the event at Provenance Wines, sharing stories and memorabilia from across the past century.

Memorabilia from the last 100 years lined the room for the celebration.

 

GCNA secretary Liz Coles said it was a fantastic day with people travelling from many different places to acknowledge the milestone.

“It’s an awesome achievement for any sporting club, let alone a female-dominated sporting club, to have 100 consecutive years of their chosen sport.”

Holly Carew (right) will turn 100 later this year and was joined at the association’s celebration by her daughter Robyn Carew.

 

Ms Coles said from the minute people walked into the building until the minute they left, they had a smile on their face.

“We had banners for the photos from each decade on it, we had the memorabilia out, you’d walk in and see somebody that you hadn’t seen for a long time. It was a really great atmosphere.”

Old uniforms were also on display as part of the celebration.

 

The afternoon was filled by a panel of guest speakers while former Australian netball player Madi Browne was the MC of the event.

Jaimee Van Leerdam, Ellen Darcy, Susan Meaney and Melbourne Vixens head coach Simone McKinnis shared their different stories and journeys about how they go into playing the sport and where they’ve ended up.

CJ Willis and Shirley Hogg were marked the 100 years.

 

Madi’s mum, Chris Browne, was also one of the guest speakers, talking about the challenges of being a parent to two elite athletes who were different ages and going in different directions.

Past GCNA player, umpire and mentor Holly Carew, who turns 100 later this year, was also celebrated at the event.

Around 100 people attended the celebration at Provenance Wines.

 

“She’s just been an integral part, especially in the umpiring, in the last probably 50 years. She’s just been amazing,” Ms Coles said.

Debbie Abbott and Kalani Abbot.

 

Throughout the year, the association has marked 100 years of netball in Geelong by incorporating some of the old rules into their Monday night games, including only letting the captain call out during a game.