By Raquel Mustillo
TALENTED Mount Gambier athlete Analeigh Anderson was hoping to spend the final week of the school holidays developing her ball handling, passing and defensive skills at a specialised sporting clinic in Adelaide.
“I usually do the clinics in Adelaide every school holidays because I really enjoy the chance to learn more skills so I can become a better player,” she said.
“I play goalkeeper and want to learn how to defend better when the ball is in the goal circle.”
The basketball and netball player woke early and packed her belongings before hopping in the car with her mother Kelly to drive the 434km distance to attend the Adelaide Thunderbirds School Holiday Clinic for a two-day session held on Wednesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 7.
Two days earlier, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens implemented “severe restrictions” across Mount Gambier, Grant and Wattle Range council areas comprising of density limits, caps on private activities and a ban on spectators at sporting events and training in response to a Covid-19 scare in Mount Gambier.
Sport participation was able to continue and no restrictions on travel were enforced.
Shortly after restrictions were announced, Ms Anderson contacted event organisers Netball SA to confirm whether her daughter was still permitted to attend the event due to the region-wide restrictions.
While in Murray Bridge on Tuesday, October 5, Ms Anderson received an email from Netball SA informing the family that Analeigh was not able to attend the clinic due to residing in Mount Gambier.
However, Ms Anderson claims other athletes who live within the three council areas were able to attend the interactive clinic because their residential address did not state they lived in Mount Gambier.
“We didn’t mind the drive, but they could have let us know earlier and they should have applied the rules to everybody,” she said.
“They could have let us know that if you’re from Mount Gambier or any of these affected regions, we’d prefer you not to be here.
“There were no notes sent out and the only reason I found out we were not able to go was because I sent the email to them to make sure I did the right thing.
“We know people who live in Suttontown went to the clinic and were still able to participate… I could have said Mil Lel and we would probably have been able to participate.
“It’s really disappointing, especially coming from a statewide organisation like Netball SA.”
The 12-year-old said she was disappointed to miss out on the opportunity to build on her fundamental netball skills with match play and possession skill games.
“I always learn a lot from the clinics,” Analeigh said.
“If the goalkeeper was at the clinic, I would be able to ask her questions and learn more skills.
“I am really sad I wasn’t able to go.”
Netball SA did not respond to a request for comment.
