Netballers rally for fire relief

Great netball will be on offer when Catani Netball Club hosts a bushfire fundraising netball tournament on Sunday.

Netballers representing 10 local netball clubs will take to the court from 8.30am to 5pm to raise funds for the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF). Just with entry fees collected, the tournament has already raised $2800.

Catani Netball Club spokesperson Angela Banbury said the response had been incredible.

With free entry on the day, she urged locals to go along and watch some great netball. A barbecue will run throughout the day to raise additional funds.

“Every cent we take on the day will go to charity,” said Ms Banbury.

Moved by the bushfire crisis unfolding, Catani put the call out last month for netball clubs to join the tournament.

In response, nine local clubs quickly jumped on board in addition. In addition to host Catani, they are Nyora, Lang Lang, Longwarry and Yarragon from the Ellinbank league, Koo wee rup, Cora Lynn, Garfield and Bunyip from the West Gippsland league, and an under 15 team “Fun Net Netball” from the Drouin and District Netball Association.

Ms Banbury said “we did have phone calls from Maffra, Mirboo North and Churchill” but the tournament places were already filled.

The junior netballers will play from 8.30am with the under 15 grand final at 12noon and under 17 grand final at 12.15pm, followed by presentations.

Senior netball – split into A and B grade – will commence at 1pm, with the grand finals at 4.30pm and presentations at 5pm.