Ararat celebrates decade by decade

Ararat Football Netball Club celebrated 50 years of netball on Saturday, with past players and members coming together for the milestone event.

In 1972, Ararat netball joined the Wimmera league with A Grade and B Grade teams.

In its 50 year association, A Grade teams have made 38 grand finals and won 19 premierships, while B Grade sides have made 18 grand finals and won six premierships.

The club has five Wimmera life members – Pat Dunn, Donna Spalding, Gail Dunn, Gayle Dadswell and Megan Shea.

Five Ararat A Grade netballers have been awarded league best-and-fairest accolades – Dunn, Dadswell, Clair Todd, Shea and Jade Fiscalini.

The club first introduced a C Grade team to its ranks in 2015 and has appeared in two grand finals since.

Ararat first entered a junior netball team into the Wimmera competition in 1977 and has won eight premierships from 10 grand final appearances across various grades.

Mrs Spalding was part of the organising team for the 50-year event.

“It was an excellent night, the atmosphere was electric,” she said.

“We didn’t know what to expect because we had not had a whole netball club milestone celebrated like that before.

“We had 100 people there with three people from the original 1972 team and four from our very first junior team in 1997.”

Mrs Spalding said the night was split into decades.

“Gail Dunn and Tina Gibson recalled events from 1972 to 1979, Gayle Dadswell spoke about the 1980s and I spoke about the 1990s,” she said.

“Megan Shea then spoke about the 2000s and Rebecca Day and Tahnee Walker spoke about the last 13 years.

“We followed up each decade with photos of that time and music from the era as well.

“There were lots of laughs and people were so intrigued and interested in what we had done throughout the years.

“We also had a beautiful and touching memorial for people who had been part of our club and passed away.

“We have such a healthy history and there was so much to celebrate, so that’s what we did.”

Mrs Spalding has been involved in the club for more than 40 years.

She said it was a team effort of netball director, Celine Bush, and a collection of life members who helped organise the milestone celebrations.

REUNION: Ararat netball 2000-2009 ‘legends’, back from left, Kira Payne, Donna Spalding, Rebecca Day-skrabl, Tahnee Walker, Kate Bligh and Megan Shea; and front, Olivia West, Terri-anne Lewis and Breeanne Fratin at the 50-years celebration.