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March 2013 Newsletter

Victorian Past and Present Netballers’ Association ‘Friends in Netball Newsletter’

March 2013

THE GOLLAN SISTERS: (By Joyce Brown)

Stella, Margaret and Jeanie Gollan were a force to be reckoned with in the mid 60’s to late 70’s at the old Royal Park Courts. They were a netball family headed by Alexander & Mary the keen but not overbearing parents; and older sister Kathleen who decided to turn to squash and cricket rather than perpetrate the sisterly competiveness she had with Stella.

I spoke with Margaret about these talented and competitive sisters and their pathway through netball. The following is a synopsis of that conversation.

Where Did You All Start?

We started at the Bentleigh/McKinnon Youth Club. Stella, first, then myself and Jeanie followed – there is about 3 years difference between each of us. We played at school at our different age groups and I remember Mr. Smith being my first good basic coach, and it was he who sent me on to Anne Henderson at the Melbourne Club. Stella and I went together actually, as my mother asked Anne to intervene at the Youth Club who was blocking my path to Melbourne.


Tell Me About The School Girls Teams:

Stella did not really “make it” until she was 16 and went into Melbourne Blue and Victorian Night Teams where as I was in the Vic. U/15 Team as Goal Shooter/Goal Attack. Anne Henderson was our Victorian Schoolgirls’ Coach and she trained us pretty hard. Melbourne Uni on a Tuesday night, then all of Saturday morning at Royal Park; play a match or two on the Saturday afternoon and added to your school training it was a tough schedule.

My Uncle had put a goal post up in our back yard so we all took to shooting. Stella ended up as a Goal Keeper, Goal Defence, but fancied herself as a Centre early on, while Jeanie and I stayed as goal shooters.

At State Schoolgirls training in the early 60’s Anne Henderson taught us the basics well. I learnt good timing from her: She would hold the cord around my tunic and at the split second of perfect timing for my move she would say “Go you brat!” I thought she was God so I went. She really was like a mother hen after training and made up hot soup and rolls for us, then took care to put us on the right tram or train for home.

We won that Australian title by the way, and I was named in the top 7 along with Gail Dorrington (WA) and Sharon Burton (SA) with whom I represented Australia 10 years later at the World Championship in New Zealand.

NOW TO THE MELBOURNE BLUE STORY.

When Stella and I arrived at the Melbourne Club she still listed herself as Centre. At trials Anne Henderson played her in defence which Stella was disappointed with. She approached Anne after trials and said “you didn’t run me long in the Centre and that’s where I want to play”. Now that showed courage as Anne Henderson gave the distinct impression she was the supremo of Netball in Victoria - not only being State Coach, but President and Head of the Umpires. Stella was quickly told she could play defence in the top line up with Melbourne Blue or move into the third team Melbourne Green in the centre. She played with Melbourne Blue of course and never looked back. She played G.K. /G.D for many years for Victoria and Australia. Some of Stella’s contempories in defence at Melbourne were Jan Willoughby, Betty Taylor and Noela Routley.

Jeanie came much later in the Blues making it through the Schoolgirls to Melbourne Gold, the “Tourers” and then to Melbourne Blue. She was the tallest one and we eventually played together in Blues and then the State Team. We had a great understanding and cut through any politeness when directing each other and employed our sisterly straight communication and frankness. It was like “I will work for you – if you are not shooting well put it to me and I will shoot”. We switched roles easily, and I think we were a strong pair. Stella was in her own world down the defence end, even though she had a wish to be a shooter, I think. Later in a Vets tournament she insisted on playing G.S. but we soon put her down back where she was of some use to us. Jeanie and I did gang up on Stella a bit in Blues telling her the defence end was pretty poor!


AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATION

Jeanie represented Victoria for 3 or 4 years but she had serious spinal surgeries which put a finish to any hopes of Australian representation. Stella was a great Goal Keeper and represented Victoria for 6 – 8 years and Australia 1966–1971. Margaret represented Victoria for approximately 12 years or more and Australia from 1967–1979. She was in the World Title teams in 1971 and 1975. A great shooter. I did not dare ask who they think was the best player! (JB) What Was Your Best Experience Representing Australia?

The World title win in Jamaica in 1971. The 4’.rule had just changed to 3’, to every shot I put up I stepped back. England were “cocky”, Jamaica physical and New Zealand as good as ever. It was outside in the blazing heat. We were the “underdogs”, so the win was special. England had Judy Heath as goal shooter; over 6’ tall and shot with the almost straight arm well above the head, and she was accurate. We were down at ¾ time against England but we got up to win by one. We beat New Zealand by 6 goals in the last match and won the title.

Who Was Feeding You?

Gayle Teede was WA and Annette Simper Centre – they were good! I was in the middle of West Aussies. Elsma Mevillo and Ricky Pyatt were shooters with me and Gaye and Annette were also from the West.

Who Were Some Of The Great Players In Your Time?

Elsma Mevillo GS (West); Margie Caldow GA (Vic); Sue Hawkins GS (Vic) and in Schoolgirls Diane Davidson WA who later played with Blues but had too many other interests to continue on seriously. Anne Walker C from Palladians and Ellen O’Shannessy C from Colac, Geelong were terrific too. I always had a good battle with defender Kay Thomson (Aberfeldie) – it was always a fair contest that I looked forward to. She was good!

Who Were Your Coaches At Top Level? (Give Me One Sentence On Each.)

Anne Henderson:

Gave me all my basics, and my timing by holding my tunic cord to be released at the correct moment of my lead.

Norma Plummer:

She was more of a playing Coach at Blues and was more tactical then hands on. I did most of the attack end.

Wilma Shakespeare:

As I was dropped in the middle of the West Australian attack end, Wilma gave me the confidence to take ownership of my position.

Joyce Brown:

There was structure within the team, and a belief that I was the only one that could do whatever was asked of my role.


As Manager Of The Australian Team You Would Have Noticed Some Changes?

Yes, I managed the Aussie team to two Commonwealth Games and two World Titles. Things are different now. Some players are more intent on what’s best for them rather than the team. They “talk the talk but they don’t walk the walk”. I am fearful we are losing the duty to the team and the culture of the team.

Liz Ellis, Bianca Chatfield and Nat Von Bertoch in their own way carry this credible leadership role. I remember chastising a player for a minor misdemeanor and was met with a bit of a grunt and a smirk, when one of the others who knew better said “She means it, don’t do it again!” It’s the little things that can add up to losing respect for what it means to represent Australia. That worries me I must say.

Who Was The Manager You Respected Most?

Phyllis Cross from Victoria. She thought and planned ahead; she was efficient and a respected sounding board for players.

What Accolades Have You Enjoyed?

Being made a Life Member of AUSTRALIAN NETBALL for the acknowledgement as a player and for my services as Manager was a thrill and honour and I felt very humble. I am about to receive my OAM which will be amazing!

JB The Gollan Sisters are a marvelous part of our Victorian Australian History. They were supportd by parents who were keen for them to be the best but who did it quietly and without fuss. I coached them once or twice in the same Victorian team. They kept me busy to say the least, and added skill and flair to the team. Their record will not be surpassed – if you have time to look up their exploits from Victorian Schoolgirls right through to Australian level it is astounding.

Thank you to Joyce Brown for her regular contribution to our Friends in Netball Newsletter. We have had

such wonderful feedback on her articles and our Readers look forward to her quarterly contribution.

Above is a picture of the family winery. They offer wine tastings for small groups by appointment. Contact

details: www.brownbrookestate.com.au. Telephone: 9830 7896.

http://www.brownbrookestate.com.au/


WHAT IS AN APPROPRIATE WARM UP FOR SPORT?

(Joel Ames is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist and director at Restore Physiotherapy and Clinical Pilates

in Kew. He is also a physiotherapist at Melbourne Football Club and teaches at Melbourne University in

both the post- graduate and Masters physiotherapy programs.)

A warm up is defined as a period of preparatory exercise in order to enhance subsequent competition or

training performance. But what is the most appropriate form of warm up and is the traditional version of a

warm up the most appropriate in enhancing performance and preventing injury?

We all know that a warm up prior to sporting activity is important, but why? What are the benefits? The

purpose of a warm up is increase blood flow to the periphery, increase muscle temperature, increase muscle

and tendon suppleness and enhance co-ordinated movement.

Warm ups have traditionally consisted of aerobic exercise, followed by stretching and then by sport specific

activity. Warm ups incorporating these three components are supported by numerous authors in the

literature. However, much conjecture exists about the specifics within these three categories.

The most controversy exists as to whether static or dynamic stretching should be included. Static stretching

involves passively elongating a muscle to the end of its range then holding (usually at the point of

discomfort) for a period of time. Dynamic stretching involves whole body movements and actively and

rhythmically contracting a muscle group through part of its range of movement.

Examples of dynamic stretches include; hopping, jumping, leg and arm swings, sidestepping, high knees, leg

kickbacks and walk lunge. Recent evidence has shown that dynamic stretching is superior to static stretching

in improving performance. In fact some evidence points to static stretching having a negative impact on

performance.

Static stretching has shown to decrease strength, jump height, reaction time and balance. Pre exercise static

stretching has also been shown to have no benefit in reducing injury risk. In contrast dynamic stretching

often incorporated into a sport specific warm up has shown to improve concentric strength, agility, speed,

agility and jump height.

The length of a warm up is also another area in which opinions vary widely. Specific time frames are

difficult to provide because they are influenced by the sport undertaken, level of competition and age of the

participants. Evidence has shown that warm ups focusing on an increase in body temperature have been

shown to be more effective in reducing injury. However, fatigue is also a positive predictor for injury. So as

general rule, the length of the warm up should be enough to achieve optimal levels of body temperature but

not too long to cause fatigue.

The sport specific activity included within a warm up should involve similar body parts to those used within

the sport. Therefore, coaches and trainers should analyse key skills and tasks performed during the sport and

incorporate similar movements into the warm up.

Using the above principles a general warm up for sporting activity should include:

1. A period of aerobic exercise to increase body temperature. E.g.: gentle shuttle runs, laps of Netball court etc.

2. A period of sport-specific dynamic stretching to stretch the muscles used in the subsequent performance. E.g. high knees, sidestepping, leg kickbacks, leg and arm swings, walk lunges, jumping and skipping.

3. Sport specific movements similar to those used in the sport. E.g.: passing drills, shooting drills etc.

REFERENCES: "The complete article with References available on request" (Joel was recommended to me by a physiotherapist in Rosebud, and I have found him to be top class in the

exercise program he has provided me for my recovery Fay Callaghan)


Jacqueline’s Determination and Intent

Aspiring young netballers believe in themselves. Jacqueline’s story started when she was 6 months old when her first engaged babysitter was asked to look after her in her new home at Marshmead, while the MLC staff fielded a Tuesday Night Ladies Netball team, across the lake in Mallacoota. Jacqueline only knew her Mum was not home then, for the 1½ hour round trip by boat in the dark, but there, subconsciously, may have been the sowing of the seed for Netball. Then, at 12 months old on a Wednesday Night Ladies Competition in Mansfield Victoria she made it courtside for the first time on the side lines chasing a practice ball or sitting in the stroller wearily watching her Mum get fit again. She was often given a netball to hold, while she waited for the walk home from the courts to her long awaiting cot. At two years of age, saw Jacqueline’s family move to King Island, Tasmania for the wild Bass Strait wind to tassle her growing locks and be joined by her younger sister, Indigo Newnham. The small community of King Island where the plumber is also the volunteer ambulance paramedic and the football coach and even more interestingly, the practice nurse is also the undertaker, is where Jacqueline started her sporting life in Auskick, on the Grassy Oval behind Ballarat Clarendon’s Year Nine Residential Campus. Jacqueline was four years old and one of three girls joined by numerous boys from her kindergarten class. There was no Netta or Net-Set-Go programmes running until later that year, when one of the Mum’s at kinder started a Netta Skill programme at the King Island District High School. Being a keen netballer and young mother looking for activities to engage her children, I encouraged Jacqueline to join in whilst her sister, Indigo would join us in the stroller courtside to watch the jumping, skipping, running between skill stations before us. Her mother only managed a scratch game with teenagers one Saturday afternoon. But believe it, Netball and Football are big events in country towns. It brings everyone out in town at the one place, who doesn’t need to work on a Saturday afternoon. Swimming lessons for children were parent-run by anyone possessing any skill, and the girls and I would have a daily visit to the pool, checking on the filters, burners and cleanliness of this 50+ old amenity. Grassy is a town of 90 people, saved by a few old town folk following the closure of the Scheelite Mine in

the 1980’s. Passionate settlers amid the contract of it being bulldozed altogether put a halt to it and made it what it is today. Our move back to city living in Melbourne for work and Jacqueline’s first year at school saw us settle in Abbotsford, Melbourne. Jacqueline’s thirst for Netball was ignited when she joined the Richmond Netball Association (RNA) for the Net-Set-Go programme under Karen Clark. She was seven, in grade one and ready to join a budding team in the Under 8’s following her graduation into the “Pythons”. With some mentoring and coaching by parent volunteers, the Pythons soon improved from losing every game to winning a few.

Jacqueline in a lolly shop


Jacqueline’ talent was rewarded as most valuable player by the third season when her parents somewhat loathe to,

made another move interstate to the bush capital, Canberra. She asked, “Do they play netball in Canberra?” With a

most encouraging “Yes, they sure do” from Karen Clark at RNA, we made the move and soon researched the local

netball club to find Arawang Netball Association, in South Canberra.

Sport in the nation’s capital underpins young families’ Saturday mornings and Arawang was no exception to the fierce competitiveness within the district. Jacqueline plays netball and Indigo took up soccer having undergone Net-Set-Go with RNA but needing to retire

with knee problems early in her netball career.

Having the girls at a Rudolph Steiner School that had, until recently, opted out of ACT Sport did not deter Jacqueline’s determination to play. She joined the local primary school of St

Jude’s grade 6 team for the Saturday

Competition and earned a rightful place

as a respected new player, friend and

appreciation of competition in Canberra

Netball. She earned entry to the first

divisional representative team for Under

11’s and hasn’t looked back.

Jacqueline uses her athletic skills well in the role of GD but is equally damaging in any of the centre plays. She yearns and talks of playing netball well into adulthood filling in for any team short of a player whenever there is an opportunity. Mum and daughter teamed up as a first in 2012 with an Indoor Social Game, which was fantastic for both of us, as half time she was asked to fill a void in the opposing team. No guesses whom she

had to play up against! She is currently trying out for the Under 12’s divisional teams whilst stepping up to the intermediates for Saturday morning competition staying with her team, known as the “Minties” in 2012 and “Fireworks” for 2013.

Jacqueline loves her netball, however, moving into ACT Primary School sport has allowed her natural talents to shine giving her opportunities to represent her school in Cross-country running and School Athletics. More importantly, Jacqueline gives of her best whilst always encouraging her teammates and friends, showing aspiring leadership on and off the court. I may be a little biased but I really believe she is a star in the making and she would be the type of girl who would not want that too loudly heard. Luckily, we live interstate.

(Written by Michelle Daniel – former RNA Ladies Monday Night Competitor “Rockets” 2009 and 2011 GD; RNA Netball Veterans Player 2012; Mansfield High School Wednesday Night Competitor 2002; Mallacoota Tuesday Night Competitor 2001; Royal Park, JC Carwashers Monday Night 1993-5; Manningham Road Primary School Generators 1985-6; Genazzano College Yr 4-12 - always enthusiastic to play whenever possible.)


NETBALL - 15 YEARS AND UNDER GIRLS:

TRIAL INFORMATION Selection Guidelines click here

Screening Day: Sunday 21st April 2013

1:00PM - 4:00PM

State Netball Hockey Centre,

Brens Drive, Parkville

Melway Map 2A H-1

Girls should at least be of Association Representative standard or A Grade Football/Netball

standard and have not been selected in the Netball Victoria 2013 Zone Academy program from

the Netball Victoria Zone Academy trials held in 2012.

A squad will be selected to attend Zone Academy Teams Trial

TO NOMINATE FOR THE SCREENING DAY CLICK HERE

NOMINATIONS CLOSE THURSDAY 18TH APRIL 2013

Zone Academy Teams Trial:

Only girls selected into Netball Victoria 2013 Zone Academy Programs plus girls selected from

the Screening Day will be invited to attend trial on

Sunday 28th April 2013

1:00PM - 4:00PM



Melway Map 2A H-1

A squad will be selected to attend final trial

TO NOMINATE FOR ZONE ACADEMY CLICK HERE

NOMINATIONS CLOSE THURSDAY 18TH APRIL 2013

Final Trial:

Sunday 19th May 2013

1:00PM - 4:00pm



Melway Map 2A H-1

MAXIMUM 12 PLAYERS TO BE SELECTED

AGE ELIGIBILITY 14 / 15 Years Born 1998 or 1999

NOMINATIONS CLOSE: Thursday 18 April 2013

CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE & DATES: Launceston, Tasmanina, 27 July-2 August, 2013.

https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/TeamVic/Documents/SSV%20Team%20Vic%2015%20years%20and%20under%20Netball%20Selection%20Guidelines%20-%202013.pdf

https://eventdesq.imgstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=292&OrgID=1621

https://eventdesq.imgstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=292&OrgID=1621


A MAN IN SPORT AT SUNBURY

Paul Cliffe is a Senior Sergeant in charge of the Gisborne Police Station in the Macedon Ranges. Throughout his life he has been very active in sport being involved in athletics and soccer in his younger days. He then went on to play Aussies Rules Football for over 20 years representing Victoria at Super Rules (over 35) level and has played cricket, indoor cricket, basketball and currently still plays basketball in the masters competition at Sunbury.

In 2006 he worked on assignment with the Australian Federal Police in the RAMSI mission to the Solomon Islands. The mission had police and army personnel from Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island Countries all housed in a compound in Honiara. Many sporting activities were keenly contested in the Mission. Paul played in a number of locally organised competitions including mixed netball where he developed a great appreciation for the skills required to play the game. On his return from the Solomon Islands his young daughter enrolled in Netta Netball at the Sunbury Netball Association. Along with many other parents he took his daughter to training every week and was eventually encouraged by a stalwart junior coach Robyn Isles to participate by supervising training activities. His daughter progressed from domestic to representative netball at U/11 level. By the time she was playing U/13 domestic netball at Sunbury he was asked if he could coach his daughter’s team. It seemed that there were no netball savvy mothers of other girls in her team that could commit the time to coach so Paul took up the challenge.

Paul's daughter also played netball in the Gisborne Netball Association with the Possums Netball Club. Over two seasons he was team manager and assisted with training the U/13 netball team coached by another dad, Craig Fox. The team was highly successful winning back to back premierships at U/13 level.

His daughter was encouraged to play upper age U/15's domestic level netball at Sunbury and Paul continued to coach his daughter's team to the premiership. When his daughter progressed into the U/15 age bracket he again coached her team to another premiership in the following season.

At the 2012 Sunbury Netball Association U/15 Representative Team tryouts Paul was asked to coach one of the Sunbury teams. He accepted the challenge completing a Foundation Netball Coaching Course and under the guidance of the highly experienced senior U/15 coach Megan Solomon is now coach of the Sunbury Sonics U/15 Team 2 competing in the Parkville Netball Competition at Royal Park. The experience is very challenging and rewarding when hard work by young girls at training translates into positive action in a game.

According to Paul coaching in a sport that you haven't really played is quite a challenge but the rewards are seeing players improve as a result of his advice and encouragement. His philosophy on netball, like many other team sports, is that it is simply a game of keepings off. If you keep the ball when you get the chance and convert it to score you should win the game. Netball is a unique game that gives each team equal opportunity to have possession after every goal is scored, in theory it should simply be a matter of taking the ball off the opposition once and scoring from that opportunity and all of your own possessions to win.


Netball at Green Acres Golf in Kew (by Fay Callaghan)

It was very good to find out that the staff at Green Acres Golf Club had a mixed Netball

Team, named GAGC, playing in the Monday Night mixed competition at Box Hill Indoor

Sport Centre. They won the Premiership in the Autumn Season of 2012 and put their

winning trophy on the bar for all the Golf Members to see. It was a mixed team of 6

females and 3 males.

I have played golf at Greenacres and spoke to Michelle Greenall who works in

Administration about their team. Her comments were, “I think it was nice to show that we

work together well inside and outside the Workplace”. The team is made up of 8 Green

Acres staff and 1 friend who didn’t work at Green Acres. There are Staff from Bar, Office,

and Golf Shop – we have Lauren Sinclair our Golf Shop Operations Assistant and Mitchell

Jones our Golf Shop Assistant

The team started because we wanted to do something fun and socialise. It was also great

because we all became friends and it was nice to get to know each other outside the

workplace. Our youngest is 16 and the oldest is 36’

At the beginning of 2013 we became a girls’ team. Some left to focus on other sports,

some left because they moved interstate or went travelling overseas, but we are still

continuing on with 4 of the Greenacres staff and with a new name Goal-den Girls. We

have made it to the grand final this season; to be played this Monday!

Top left to right: Sunara Hanzlik (friend of GA), Tom Barton (Bar),

Mitchell Jones (Golf), Luke McNamara (bar), Felicity Gallbally (bar),

Felicity Purbrick (bar)

Bottom left to right: Lauren Sinclair (golf), Michelle Greenall (admin),

Kate Ruhl (bar)


FROM THE BOARD Netball Victoria was nominated for the Sports Leadership award at the recent Migration Settlement Awards.

Netball Victoria was nominated for its ‘Melbourne Vixens Friendly Schools Program’ (MVFSP)

which introduces netball to newly arrived migrants and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds; as a means of helping them become an included part of their communities. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition both spoke at the Gala Dinner held at Parliament House last night. AFL Victoria and Football Federation were also nominated for the award.

Netball Victoria chief executive Michelle Plane said she is ‘delighted' to have been nominated for

the award. The MVFSP was piloted in 2012 involving five primary schools from the Dandenong region and focused on skills and games as well as including some visits from Melbourne Vixens players and a school trip to a Melbourne Vixens game. Plane said "the program aims to encourage students to participate, get active and to help build

confidence and break down culture barriers. It’s about offering the opportunity for students to play

netball, whether they come from a multicultural or indigenous background or have a disability.”

The Victorian Under 21 team has come home from the 2013 National Netball Championships with silver, although proudly remaining undefeated until the grand final. Seven states and territories competed this year in Canberra for the title with South Australia coming out on top overall after the five day competition.

Victorian 21/U coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell is extremely proud of the team’s effort over the

tournament and although they didn’t come home with gold, she said the team gained invaluable

experience in learning and personal growth. After finishing third last year, Keppich-Birrell said the team had been training hard to physically and mentally prepare for the competition this year.

Overall it was a good result for the Under 21’s, a step up from last year’s third place at the

Championship and Keppich-Birrell said the team were even more determined to step it up again to secure the gold next year.

Feedback

I really look forward to receiving the “Friends in Netball” Newsletter. Joyce Brown’s stories of past and present I find very interesting and enjoyable. Keep up the good work. Lyn Sykes.

Avis Macaulay – now residing in Rye –finds the newsletter a great read, with stories

from the past, present and future.


A MESSAGE FROM VPPNA PRESIDENT.

We hope you are enjoying our "Friends in Netball" Newsletter. I am pleased to reports that Netball will be televised live on Foxtel (if you have it) and on SBS2. Live one game a week.

Please encourage all Netball loving people to watch free to air, because possibly if their ratings rise we will get more air time.

A special thank you to all the people who have shared their stories with us, particularly Joyce Brown who never lets us down.

If you would like any of your friends, family or anyone from your Netball Association to receive our Newsletter, please contact our Secretary Anne Gibson, details below.

Fay Callaghan President VPPNA

OFFICE BEARERS CONTACT DETAILS:

Fay Callaghan: President: Mobile 0419.342697; Email: [email protected]; Dorothy Close: Vice-President & Treasurer: Telephone: 9458 2624 Anne Gibson: Secretary: H 9889 4044 M 0419356501; email [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]