Hub Netball Club

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:08): Last Thursday night, I had the privilege of attending the annual general meeting and summer 2016-17 presentation night for the Hub Netball Club. This was a fantastic event, and brought together a small community netball club to celebrate their success over the summer reason. The Hub Netball Club was founded in 1979 and its committee prides itself on being a family club with the emphasis on participation with a strong club structure.

In the early days, Hub Netball Club had an affiliation with the Hub YMCA at Aberfoyle Park. The club is now a strong participant within the Southern United Netball Association (SUNA) which is based in Morphett Vale, with their training courts now located within the Reynella Sports and Social Centre and shared with the Reynella Tennis Club at Old Reynella.

For this season, Hub Netball Club had 11 teams participating in the SUNA competition, with eight of these teams competing in the finals. Hub came away from the grand finals with their A1 team winning their premiership, making it four in a row. The C3 team won their grand final to make them back-to-back premiers and the under 11 Green team played an amazing grand final to come away with a one goal win.

However, as much as this was a time of celebration for the club, it was also an extremely sad time. On Wednesday 8 March 2017, Hub lost a dear and valued friend, Geoff Robertson, in tragic circumstances while he was umpiring an A grade game at SUNA. SUNA and its associated clubs, along with the wider netball community, highly respected Geoff and his contribution to netball, and this was evident by the outpouring of respect after this tragic event. It was fantastic to see all grand final teams from all clubs in the association come together for a minute's silence prior to their games.

At the senior grand final games on Wednesday 15 March 2017, SUNA renamed their A grade best and fairest to now be the Geoff Robertson Memorial Trophy. It is a very fitting tribute to a man who was so well respected within the wider netball community. Geoff was an iconic figure at Hub Netball Club for over 15 years. He was a life member, brilliant coach, respected committee member, a previous vice president, amazing umpire and, above all, a mentor and friend to many—all this whilst also running a very successful advertising business.

To ensure that the legacy of Geoff remains, the club has introduced a new award this season, being the Geoff Robertson Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Club Person. This award will acknowledge a club member who has gone above and beyond to help develop the club for the year prior, whether it be by umpiring, coaching, being a committee member or a team manager. It requires that a person does more than is expected of their role and really assists behind the scenes, as Geoff always did for the club for many years.

This year, the first winner, very appropriately, was Belinda Rigney. She goes above and beyond her role of secretary. She has provided immeasurable support to the president, dear friend and old netball buddy of mine, Kendyl Dunk. In particular, when Kendyl's work and family made it very difficult for her to juggle her role, Belinda has assisted with filling umpire positions, handling issues that arise on game night, even when just attending as a spectator. She is the consummate organiser of meetings, does all her roles and tasks without complaint and is always available to assist others. She was courtside when Geoff passed away and has been the club contact with Geoff's family. She has provided enormous support and, while grieving the loss of her dear friend, she even ensured the day after that respect was shown by the wearing of black armbands.

It was very fitting that the inaugural award was presented by two of Geoff's children, Brittany and Amy. My heart really went out to the girls who were so very brave on the night. They and their mum, Jayne, sister Victoria and brother Alex have suffered the greatest of losses, but they are surrounded by a wonderful community at the Hub Netball Club and in Happy Valley who love them dearly and are there for them. I know this will be at least some comfort.

The Hub Netball Club is a great club which over the past few seasons has also played its A1 team in other competitions to give them a bit of variety, last winter participating in the Southern Hills Netball Association where they came away as runners-up. Over summer, as a training run, they also participated with another team in the City Night competition at Priceline Stadium. One of the two teams played in the finals but unfortunately did not come away with a win. It may be one of the smaller clubs, but they bat above their average. They have enormous volunteer numbers who provide great help, and the club would not survive without them. I look forward to being involved in the club in the future.