The Hoppers Crossing Junior Netball Association plans to expand after the club unveiled its six new courts recently.
Players christened the new courts, part of an upgrade of Mossfiel Reserve, with demonstration matches, and other activities.
Melbourne Vixens’ player Kate Moloney joined past players to give the new courts their tick of approval, while the club’s six life members – Sue Bugge, Lyn Tyrrell, Steve Jones, Darryl Crumpton, Irene Maycock and Ruth McCarthy – each had a court named in their honour. The club also welcomed its seventh life member, Delia Waring, to the fold.
The association started in 1972 with four teams of under 10s, and has grown to more than 30 teams across the age groups.
Hoppers Crossing Junior Netball Association president Darren Hellmann said the new courts give the club a chance to expand and accommodate even more players and teams.
“The courts we were using previously were substandard and had cracks and things in them, and now that we’ve got new courts and player shelters and fencing and seating, it’s a lot more user-friendly,” he said.
“A lot of people who played with us 20, 30, 40 years ago have gone and had kids – and their kids now play netball.”
Mr Hellmann said Mossfiel Reserve still had room for two more netball courts, if there is future demand.
