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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-23 Daily Xml
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ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (14:24): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house about the recent success of the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the 2013 ANZ Championship?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:24): I share in the joy that South Australians experienced in celebrating this fantastic victory for South Australia, and I, for one, am happy to enjoy when South Australia has a success. We do enjoy it when South Australia has a success. I had the great pleasure of attending the game along with what seemed to be about 100,000 screaming girls, from where I was sitting at least.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: No, there were definitely girls shouting next to me, I can tell you. It was a fantastic experience. The team did a fantastic job. It was an incredibly tight match. They maintained their discipline right to the end. It was very exciting. The Firebirds, of course, did their best but, in the end, we managed to win by two goals. It was a fantastic atmosphere, a full house, and a great spectacle, both for the sport and, of course, for the spectators who were at the premises—about 9,000 people cheering on every goal and intercept.

The premiership capped off an outstanding season for the Thunderbirds, adding to their remarkable record over the past 17 seasons. The Thunderbirds' popularity is highlighted by the fact that grand final tickets sold out within an hour. Their domination of the season in 2013 is reflected in the national squad with four Thunderbirds players named in the 17-player Australian Diamonds Squad for the upcoming five-test Constellation Cup against New Zealand.

In addition, Thunderbirds coach, Jane Woodlands-Thompson, was named coach of the year for the championship all-star team. Jane is an outstanding Australian coach boasting a winning strike rate of just under 70 per cent in her six seasons in charge. This year Jane guided her Thunderbirds to a club record, 13-game winning streak. Netball SA oversees 37 associations, 320 affiliated clubs and 28,000 registered players, and I am sure that this premiership win will only enhance the game's popularity and appeal in South Australia.

I would also like to wish Natalie von Bertouch all the best on her retirement as captain of the Thunderbirds. She is a great athlete, and she is leaving as national captain and a double premiership captain. Natalie has made a magnificent contribution to Australian netball, and we want to congratulate her and also all of those magnificent Thunderbird players who put on such an entertaining show and are fantastic role models for our young people. They really are wonderful ambassadors not only for the game but for South Australia.

The SPEAKER: The leader, with that fifth supplementary.

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