Jeff Huddlestone
AMONG other sports, the game of netball has served generations of players around the country with competition and social games.
To date locally, the Mount Gambier Netball Association (MGNA) has aided five generations of players.
Established in 1944, the association is 78 years old.
One of the many familiar faces at the Olympic Park courts in Margaret Street is Vicis Netball Club identity Donna Fleming.
Ms Fleming has been involved with netball either as a player or official for more than 40 years.
She shares a strong family tradition and started playing at a young age with the now-defunct Tarpeena club in the Mid-South East League, of which her grandmother was the club president.
Ms Fleming started playing for one of the MGNA’s member clubs, Vicis, in the mid 1980s mainly in the positions of wing attack and wing defence.
A nurse at the Mount Gambier hospital, she stepped back a little from netball to focus on study but has returned to coaching.
The family tradition has been handed down to her daughters.
Briana is the current president of Vicis.
Georgia is in Adelaide and remains involved in the sport.
It does not end there.
Ms Fleming’s granddaughter Summer and niece Chloe are also netballers rounding out such a wonderful family commitment to their sport.
“I have got a strong sense of purpose and I like to be able to participate and help,” she said.
A life member of Vicis Netball Club, Ms Fleming is also the A Grade coach and Vice President.
Other roles have included President of the Vicis club and MGNA publicity officer.
Ms Fleming also wrote articles for the Border Watch and was interviewed on the radio about association activities.
Other member clubs of the MGNA include Hobitz, Saints, Zodiacs, Amazons, Intruders and Nomads.
Vicis runs competition netball for under 11s, 13s, 15s and senior teams.
The association is a breeding ground for some very good netballers, who stay with their clubs or later progress to the Western Border or Mid South East netball leagues and even further afield.
Ms Fleming said the last few seasons have been tough.
“Covid has not been very kind to us, and we were not able to allow people to watch the games and some of the players came down with it,” she said.
However, MGNA clubs are again fielding teams for supporters to watch at the local netball courts.
Ms Fleming said gender equality is now playing its part.
“With the expansion of different sports and the gender equality for women branching out to football and other sports, I feel it will have a bit of an impact on netball,” Ms Fleming said.
The club veteran said it is a good sport for girls to play and get involved with.
“Just the feeling of participating in something where you feel included and valued,” Ms Fleming said.
“You are part of something that is bigger than you and that is why we call it a team sport.“
She shares a common love of Vicis club with its members.
“I love what I do, and they love the club,” Ms Fleming said.
Ms Fleming had some encouraging words for parents thinking of introducing their girls to netball.
“If they want their children to be involved with everything that’s going to give them a sense of purpose, confidence and making lifelong friends, I think it would be fabulous to involve them in netball,” she said.
Commenting on the recent national volunteer week, Ms Fleming highlighted the essential role of volunteers in sport.
“That is a very big component for us. It’s important to acknowledge people and to say we are all there to help,” she said.
