TALK about young talent time. Shortly after Lexy Louise Dwyer was born yesterday morning, new mum Nicole Dwyer got a phone call. It was Melbourne Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg, who called to congratulate the Port Fairy stalwart on her first-born. “They’re ready to sign her up,” quipped Dwyer, before explaining that the Vixens coach and Dwyer’s own mother Bev Bourke are close friends.
“I was her flower girl.” Lexy was welcomed into the world by Dwyer and her husband Dean at 9.07am at Warrnambool’s St John of God Hospital. She weighed eight
pounds, two ounces. Dwyer chose not to know the baby’s sex until the birth. “I’m rapt it’s a girl,” she said. “I’ve got a little netballer.” The veteran, who is the Seagulls’ senior co-coach, hoped to be back on the court again this season. “But I’ll just play it by ear,” she said. “There’s a couple of weekends off coming up which will probably help.”
YOU probably saw or heard about Melbourne’s jumper clashing with the umpires’ pink strip last weekend in the AFL. Well, there seems to be a couple of Hampden League netball body suits that rival that colour confusion. Even with Koroit’s white bibs, it’s not easy to establish the difference between the fast-moving Saints and Cobden players, who both wear predominantly black and red uniforms.
HAMPDEN League’s open team has already progressed to the LOUD Championships finals despite not playing a game. The side, coached by Lorraine English, was supposed to take to court at the qualifying round in Warrnambool on May 23. But a lack of entries means Hampden’s open team will skip the qualifying round and simply contest the finals on June 20 at the State Netball Hockey Centre. The open side will be announced closer to the finals. Hampden has selected its 13 and under and 15 and under teams. The 13s, coached by Jackie Smedts, includes Kate O’Meara (North Warrnambool Eagles), Bridget Smith, Olivia Niddrie, Madeline Drew, Aylish Frusher (South Warrnambool), Jacqui Arundell, Ellen-Rose Lee, Grace Logan (Terang Mortlake), Rebecca Rohan (Cobden), Caitlin Hall, Olivia Hickey and Isabelle Corneby (Camperdown). The 15s, coached by Dot Jenkins, includes Joanna Couch (Terang Mortlake), Rachel Dobson, Carly Pulling (Koroit), Remeny McCann, Cheyenne Rohan (Cobden), Sarah Moroney (Port Fairy), Skye Billings, Annie Blackburn, Jordyn Billings (North Warrnambool Eagles), Angela Meade and Brittany Holland (South Warrnambool). The 17 and under squad, coached by Gill Herrmann, has its final trial on Monday.
PLAYERS and supporters of the Warrnambool and District league clubs that organised functions for the pink round last weekend were entitled to feel tickled pink all week after their stellar fund-raising efforts. South Rovers was able to raise about $4000 for breast cancer research and awareness through its pink night while Panmure racked up about $1500. Maree Condon was one of the organisers of the Bulldogs’ event, which included an afternoon tea followed by a function on Saturday night. “Everybody got quite involved from both Panmure and Nirranda,” she said.
“At the afternoon tea we had lots of ladies who wouldn’t normally come to the football and a lot hadn’t even been up to the rooms before, so it was good.” Kolora-Noorat managed to raise about $2300 through an afternoon tea and fashion parade.
QUICK getaways, early exits and absenteeism were scattered across netball matches on Saturday due to the Warrnambool Mermaids having their first doubleheader on the road. Dashing from netball to basketball obviously didn’t affect the Mermaids, who kept their undefeated run intact with two victories. Mermaids coach Peter Davis said before the double-header that he didn’t mind his players juggling both sports. “It doesn’t bother me at all so long as when they turn up to basketball, they’re ready to play,” he said. “If they don’t perform, they’ll sit on the bench but the thing is, they’re all such great athletes who can do both.” Warrnambool’s next away trip is May 29, when it has a 6pm match in Sunbury.
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