Netball club growing despite challenges
After two years when community sport was p ushed to the sidelines of life due to COVID the Drouin Hawks Netball Club has rebounded better than ever.
President Sarah Sharpe said those associated with the club - players, supporters, officials and sponsors - could not be more thankful that the return to stability and normality this year.
The past two years have been a reminder of the power and privileged position the club holds as a community sports clubs that supports and unites people and businesses, she said.
The Hawks netball club this year has nine teams with the three youngest development groups - Under 9, 11 and 13 - competing in local district associations and six teams, including three junior sides, travelling around the region competing in Gippsland League.
The Under 13 development squad play of a Monday evening in the Warragul District Netball Association twilight competition while the Under 9s and Under 11s play on Saturdays at the Drouin Recreation Reserve.
Ms Sharpe said that with the number of teams the club now puts on the court it is great to have families, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents, friends and sponsors invested and caring about how everybody played and got involved.
She highlighted that the A grade team that has been one of the forces of Gippsland League for many years have started in the junior levels with the club and joined to fill a desire to play quality netball.
Three of the current team, Stacie Gardiner, Ruby Pratt and Lucy McKellar are also playing at Victorian Netball League level.
Ms Sharpe said the netball club welcomed a number of new sponsors this season and the many other businesses that have been loyal supporters over many years.
The major sponsors are Longwarry Food park, McDonalds Drouin and Warragul, Mel Ahearn@realty,Brushes Sign Arts, RGM Group, Drouin and district Community Bendigo Bank, Narellan Pools, Drouin Smash Repairs, Royal Hotel, Straightforward Conveyancing and Community College Gippsland.