Pair remain staunch supporters of netball
Netball filled a void in Judy Brown’s life after many years on the sidelines watching her children play sport.
It was an important time in her life until it ended in the early 2000s when her children left school and entered the workforce.
‘‘I missed following their sport terribly,’’ Brown, of Invercargill, says.
She put her thinking cap on and decided to attend Southern Sting netball games at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill.
‘‘I went to the odd game and sometimes my twin sister [Sue Grieve] and I would go along together.’’ Brown soon became a regular. Her support for the team grew and continued when Sting changed its name to Southern Steel after merging with the Otago Rebels in 2008.
For the past three years, Brown has been attending home games with netball stalwart Bev Harvey, of Invercargill.
Harvey’s life revolves around netball.
Harvey and Brown met four years ago through their work in rest homes. Brown is an activities co-ordinator at Clare House, while Harvey retired two years ago from being a diversional therapist at Calvary Hospital
When Steel is playing, Brown writes on a noticeboard at Clare House the start time to alert resident netball fans to watch television coverage.
Harvey made 20 Steel supporters’ hats for Calvary Hospital residents.
She and Brown are usually among the last to leave Stadium Southland after Steel games. They stay on to talk to players, coaches and management.
‘‘It’s just amazing, the team’s so passionate and caring . . . it’s so uplifting. They’re an inspiring group of sports people.’’
She and Brown are counting down the days to Super Sunday at Stadium Southland on April 30.
All six teams in the ANZ Premiership will be playing, with games at 2pm: Pulse v Magic; 4pm: Steel v Mystics; and 6pm: Tactix v Stars.
‘‘It’s going Brown says. to be a big day,’’