Netballers battle the odds

By Sarah Schwager
THE Cranbourne North Netball Club has had to withdraw three teams this season due to lack of resources.
Despite having nurtured many successful players, the small club has been forced to refer some of its players to other clubs after it failed to raise the money to keep paying training and playing fees.
The club now has just six teams entered in the Cranbourne South West Netball Association (CSWNA) competitions.
Club secretary Tom Green said his daughter Molly, now 16, started the club just a few years ago.
He said the club quickly ballooned out with more kids on the books than they could accommodate.
Despite this, he said the club still had to hire out a space to train and was struggling to stay afloat.
“Our resources are stretched to the limit,” Mr Green said.
The club recently received a $1000 grant through the Hunt Club Community Fund to help purchase training equipment, which Mr Green said they were extremely thankful for.
“The only training equipment the club has are second hand netballs that have been purchased by coaches or donated by parents,” Mr Green said.
He said the grant was a great help but more help from organisations like CSWNA and Casey Council was needed if the club was to keep running.
“With additional resources, the club will be able to enter further teams in the local competition.”
The Cranbourne North Netball Club has already seen some great players enter its midst.
Kelly Roberts, 17, was one of three Cranbourne North girls selected for the under-17 Combined Australian Netball Association (CANA) championship team and will fly to Christchurch in May to compete against a New Zealand representative squad.
Tess Maxwell represents Peninsula in the State League while another girl, Hayley, 15, plays for the Ariels State League team.
Mr Green said it was hard to keep the netball club going when they did not even have a court to train on.
“We got up to 10 teams at one stage but it’s hard with such a lack of coaches and resources and having to rent a gym at Lynbrook,” he said.
He said it was not the better players he was concerned about, as he knew they would succeed regardless.
“It’s the other ones, the ones who may not have anything else to do if there wasn’t a club in Cranbourne North.”
For more information on the Cranbourne North Netball Club, phone Mr Green on 0423 569 061 or email cnnc@lizzy.com.au.