By Pam Kiriakidis
KILMORE Junior Netball Club launched its first spring-summer short season on four new outdoor courts with full lights at JJ Clancy Reserve on October 24.
Approximately 180 boys and girls were sorted into teams ranging from under nine to under 16 age groups on the first Monday of the competition, which will pause in December before resuming in February.
Treasurer Jodie Schultz was overwhelmed at the response after working hard to put together the short season at Kilmore Junior Netball Club.
“We had our first session the other Monday night – it was raining but the smiles and giggles and the excitement were really rewarding and made all the hard work in the previous few weeks worthwhile,” Ms Schultz said.
“Some are teams from outside our local area. Even people from Whittlesea have joined us, Pyalong, Seymour – the whole area.”
Kilmore Junior Netball Club received their new courts with feature lights through a State Government grant and funding from Mitchell Shire Council last year.
Ms Schultz said it helped diversify sporting competitions in Mitchell Shire.
“Netball in the Mitchell Shire has only ever been on a Saturday morning. Now that we have all the night lights and daylight savings, we can offer something where kids can go from playing on a Saturday to during the week,” Ms Schultz said.
“They’re playing all year round, which provides a better standard of sport, and kids who are playing all year round are active and involved.”
Ms Schultz said the short season was an opportunity for locals to bond over sport, and to make up time lost to COVID-19 lockdowns.
“It was a great way of children and families meeting other families in our community. It was very overwhelming, and we’ve been able to get people out and enjoying sport again after two years of lockdown,” she said.
