Australian netball legend mentors players in Port Douglas
SPORT
Former Australian netball captain Vicki Wilson OAM and fifty-three junior netballers descended on Port Douglas last weekend for the Kenfrost Homes Marlin Coast Netball Academy Getaway program.
The Port Douglas Netball Association hosted the two-day clinic where players from around the Far North between the ages of 11 and 16 were mentored by Wilson.
The Academy, which trains up and coming netballers from across the Far North, was unable to hold its usual programs in Singapore or interstate this year so President of the Marlin Coast Netball Branch, Heather McLaren, said Port Douglas was the next best thing.
“Due to Covid-19 the region is not able to send teams overseas or interstate, so the region organised a weekend in Port Douglas for players, coaches and umpires and incorporated netball, sprint training, and team-building exercises as well as staying in a resort,” Ms McLaren said.
“It’s an experience and it’s an opportunity for the kids to get away and work with different teammates than their usual home teams.”
“It’s was a great opportunity for the players to learn from Vicki’s expertise.”
Vicki Wilson was a part of the Australian national netball team for fifteen years and captained Australia to the first-ever netball gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 1999. She has also coached the Queensland, New Zealand, and Fiji netball teams.
Wilson received the Order of Australia medal in 1992, was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Australian Netball Hall of Fame in November 2008.
The players went through a day of skills and training coached by Wilson before a full day of match play.
Douglas Netball Association (DNA) Vice President, Mikaela Goodwin, said DNA was thrilled to host the event and have netballers back on the courts in Douglas.
“It’s really good to see that junior netball is so alive in the Far North with girls coming from as far as Tully,” she said.
“Douglas netball welcomes the players to the region, it’s great to see them enjoying the facilities and the services in the area and hopefully they come back again soon with their families.
“It is exciting and it’s also great that they have been some money in the Douglas economy.”
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