AFTER 60 years, the Mildura Netball Association will break with history as moves into its new home.
MNA’s Karen Martin said netballers would fondly remember Mansell Reserve’s grass courts, where the association had “security of knowing we had somewhere to conduct our competition”.
MNA formed in 1942. But with women’s sport coming of age after World War II, more space was necessary to allow competition.
The Mildura Council obtained the grounds to be called S.R. Mansell Women’s Reserve in 1957, previously a Chinese market garden with three split levels.
After sharing access with softball and hockey in its early years, the MNA spent about $400,000 improving the former council facilities and grounds as it slowly turned the 12 courts at Mansell Reserve into Mildura’s home for netball.
“Mansell was one the last grass-court venues in the state,” Martin said.
“Spring Carnival was always held the first weekend of the September school holidays – teams travelled from Melbourne and Adelaide for the experience to play on grass
She said in later years players were “disappointed” about losing Mansell Reserve’s grass courts as the venue modernised.
As MNA prepares to launch its summer twilight competition at its new home at Mildura Sporting Precinct, Martin said netballers would benefit from the association not having “to postpone or cancel games due to extreme heat, dust or rain”.
“Playing on boards indoors provides players the opportunity of a different game experience and we are hopeful this will attract players back to netball,” she said.
While dates for the start of the twilight season are yet to be confirmed as MNA awaits further details on the return of community sport, competition will take place on Thursdays and Saturdays.
On Thursday evenings under 15s, 17s and seniors (women, mixed and social grades) will compete, with games from 5pm.
Juniors will play on Saturday mornings in under 9, 11s and 13s categories, with matches from 8.30am.
MNA vice-president Alana Mills said she hoped the move to Mildura Sporting Precinct, where MNA will have access to six indoor and four outdoor courts to run its upcoming summer twilight season, will encourage “people to come back to netball”.
“Our summer competition is a great way for football netball clubs to perhaps lead into their preseason by entering teams that they may not have in the past,” Mills said.
Alongside running their seniors competition, the move to the Sporting Precinct will coincide with a return to run a women’s social competition. Mills said it would help MNA in its efforts to reduce barriers to participation.
“We haven’t really offered a social ladies’ competition before. (It’s something) we’re really excited to be offering because it would give women that may have played at Lifestyle Plus an option to come back to netball without the uniform restrictions that normally netball (has).”
For Martin, the move to Mildura Sporting Precinct was exciting, but after years of security at Mansell Reserve she said the association had made concessions as it eased into a new life sharing facilities.
“Our competition night of play has changed from Tuesdays and Wednesdays to Thursdays and Saturdays.
However, she said the move would position the association well to attract Super Netball sides to Mildura in coming years.
“Mildura would be well positioned to host a pre-season game between the Melbourne Vixens and the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
“It will also allow us to apply for events such as the Netball Victoria state titles or the northern zone championships, which in turn would reduce travel time for our players. In the past we have not been able to apply for these events due to inadequate facilities.”
For further information about the twilight season, visit the MNA Facebook page or email competitions@milduranetball.com.au.
