Excitement builds as netball season looms
by Greg Martin
Michele Murphy knows a thing or two about netball having , for many years from junior ranks through to elite levels , served the quicksilver game wearing many hats .
Michele is the daughter of this district ’ s legendary sports figures , Riverstone sports royalty , Kevin and Heather Smith .
Kevin was a top-class fast bowler who represented the Hawkesbury in cricket matches against touring Jack Chegwyn XI teams but was even a better bowler on bowls greens on which he won a swag of championships and was good enough to represent NSW at national titles .
Heather , a keen netballer herself , was one of the founders of the Riverstone Mothers Netball Club ( 1971 ) which three years later morphed into the powerful Riverstone Netball Club which she served for many years as coach and administrator . That sporting blood certainly courses
Michele Murphy ( back-row , far right ) with the obviously delighted members of Hawkesbury ’ s premiership winning NSW Metropolitan League 3rd Division team . Photo : courtesy Clusterpix .
through Michele ’ s veins !
She ’ s done it all in netball to the highest level as player , coach , manager and administrator .
So , when Michele says she is “ very excited ” about the prospects of the Hawkesbury senior netball team which will campaign in the 2022 NSW Metropolitan League ( NSWML ) competitions , you have to take notice .
The NSWML is spread over six divisions and coach Michele has every right to feel confident that the Hawkesbury players have the skills , fitness and tenacity to have a highly successful season in Division 2 .
“ We only linked with the Metro League in 2019 and each season we have made impressive progress and I fully expect us to stay on that path this upcoming season ,” Michele said .
“ Our debut season in Division 3 was a learning curve for all of us and gradually throughout the season we , little by little , made improvement to our game .
“ So much in fact that the team really fired in 2020 and we earned promotion to Division 2 in 2021 by winning the premiership with an extra-time 52-48 win over Liverpool .
“ The girls played superbly that day , but it was their hard-honed fitness which saw them come out on top when the going got really tough in extra time .
“ And for that edge in fitness we have our wonderful trainer , my sister , Amanda Mulherin , to thank for the programs she instigated and the passionate support and
encouragement she provided to all the players .
“ And I ’ m delighted to report that Amanda is once again be on board as our trainer this season .”
The team took a little time to adjust to the higher standard of play last season but by the time COVID-19 lockdown ended the competition in June , they were really hitting their
Hard yakka ! Trainer , Amanda Mulherin ( centre ), leads the Hawkesbury players in a warm-up run at Windsor PCYC . The players have worked tirelessly to ensure they go into this season at peak fitness . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
straps , winning three games on the trot in impressive displays .
As was the inimitable Big Kev who kept yelling , “ I ’ m excited ” in spruiking his cleaning product on the Idiot Box , so too are Michelle and the entire Hawkesbury outfit as the 2022 season looms .
The NSWML season kicks off at the NSW Netball Centre at Olympic Park on March 21 ( Divs 3-6 ) with the top two divisions commencing their seasons on April 7 .
“ I believe that if we can continue our success at this elite level of the game , it will provide future opportunities and encouragement for players coming through the ranks to remain in the district instead of moving away to further their
careers at other clubs ,” Michele said .
“ At the start of this year , Amanda gave each of our players a fitness program , so by the time we commenced training at the end of January , they were raring to go .” Michele has watched many of the squad members come through the ranks and is confident Hawkesbury will have a big impact on the NSWML in ’ 22 .
“ We have vast experience across the board , from our GS ( goal shooter ) Teegan Ryan , back to our formidable GD ( goal defence ) and captain , Stacey Hopkins ,” she said .
“ And I ’ m also expecting big things this season from our young guns , Bianca Packer ( goal attack ) and another really hot talent , Erin Graham , another GD .”
HOME & GARDEN
Property owners beware ...
We ’ re only a heatwave away from a fire catastrophe .
With winter rain right through into spring and even summer , we ’ ve been fortunate to have lush grass , and continued success with horticulture and livestock .
There is a downside , firefighting authorities warn that the huge fuel load is described as a fire time bomb !
Aussie ’ s Bushfire Survival Guide One of the key documents produced by Australian Pump Industries , and available free either online or hard copy , is their Bushfire Survival Guide . It deals not only with property preparation , precautions and personal safety but also covers everything from crop protection to livestock safety as well .
Staying to protect your animals in a fire emergency means being armed to defend the property and having the right equipment . Water supply from a dam , a serious well or large water tank and a top-quality pump is essential . Don ’ t pay too much , believing that a higher priced pump is necessarily better than one that appears to be ‘ too good to be true ’.
Aussie Pumps ’ Fire Chief out performs both Davey and Onga equivalent models by 25 per cent in performance . They are powered by genuine Honda engines that are famous for ‘ starting first time , every
Josie Robertson and her thoroughbred jumper , Roo , are ready this fire season .
time ’.
The pumps should always be oiled and , in the fire season , fuelled for action . Fill the pump with water through the priming cap so that is self-primes as soon as the engine starts . Avoid panic by practicing to start the engine , making sure the pump primes and operate the hose and nozzles .
Further information is available from aussiepumps . com . au .
NOTICE OF FERRY & ROAD CLOSURES
Hawkesbury 120 Water Ski Race Classic Governor Philip Park Windsor 26 & 27 March 2022
Sackville Ferry services will be limited . Lower Portland Ferry will be closed . Effective Sunday 27 March 2022 ONLY
Alternative Route via Pitt Town or Wisemans Ferry
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 142 // MARCH 2022 39