Hornsby Heights Netball Club (HHNC) was founded in 1961 By Co-Chairpersons/ Presidents Louise Reynell, and Helen Ryan, two mums were trying to give their daughters a sporting chance in the local area. Helen’s sister, Barbara Speight (Northern Beaches Committee) was the inaugural Secretary with the assistance of Chloe Stephens.

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From 1961-1968 the club played in the Meadowbank/Brush Farm / Eastwood Ryde Competition. Two teams initially formed the club, one in the Under 10 years and one in the under 14 years (although all the girls were except 1 were 13). The foundation team members featured Lyn Chabin nee Ryan, Lynette Cooper (Roberts), Louise Reynell, Hilary Peters (McFetridge), Anne Johnson, Helen Sims, Kim Freeman, Beverley Marshall, Kerrie Atkinson, Kerry?

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 The First uniform was a Box Pleat tunic with a cord sash. Later the distinctive Green and Orange uniform was designed by Mr and Mrs Hazel in 1966 featuring the Hornet Emblem. To this day we still feature the Hornet and colours green white and orange.

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Ku-Ring-Gai Netball Association or KNA then known as Ku-ring-gai Women’s Basketball Association was founded in 1969.Games were played at Aluba Oval, Commenarra Oval and Mimosa Oval before moving to purpose-built courts at Canoon Road in 1979. HHNC with Berowra, Kissing Point, West Pymble, St Ives and other clubs helped form the Association. Rolf Park was the first training venue with Heights later moving to purpose 4 purpose built courts at Montview Oval.

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In 1987-88, our club featured a Men’s team and was coached by club registrar Jennifer Rowley before the men’s comp was abandoned. These days mixed netball teams represent HHNC in the Spring Competition.

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Throughout the years the club has had many players and officials involved from Grass Roots Netball through to International Representation.

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*Julie Fitzgerald current Suncorp Super Netball  Giants Coach, and Australian Diamonds Fast Five Coach , debuted as a player in the under 11s, going on to be premiers that first season and playing many successful seasons through to seniors before moving onto the club committee and Coaching roles. She tells me that she remembers training a Rolf Park on many cold winter nights!

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 *Club member Jan Troy along with Julie Fitzgerald were the first Coach Manager combination for Sydney Cenovis and Sydney Swifts in the new Commonwealth Bank Trophy (Now Suncorp Super Netball).

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*Bronwyn Adams a junior in the club has gone on to represent Australia internationally as an Umpire.

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*Deb Frost another player, committee member, coach of the club has been heavily involved in KNA’s All Abilities program (previously known as Players with Disabilities). Deb has coached the KNA All Stars team since 2011 and continues today!

 

The Club has proudly produced National A ,B  and C Badge umpires, Premier , Metro (State) League Coaches, Interdistrict ,State Masters ,State Championship and State Age, Managers, Coaches , Players and National Bench Officials.

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Ella Johnson one of our juniors has gone on to Premier League and recently was successful in reaching NSW Emerging Talent Team in 2021.

The Club has also produced many Volunteers Committee members over the years, many of whom have gone on to Volunteer with Ku-Ring-gai Netball Association and continue to this day.

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Hornsby Heights also assists with some of our association’s smaller club; primarily umpire scheduling and mentoring for clubs Killara and Sacred Heart since 2019.

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HHNC has grown from 2 junior teams in 1961 to 33, 9 senior and 24 Junior in 2021, we look forward to many more exciting years of netball at KNA.

 

Bibliography

Some information has been obtained from the Book “60 years of Netball in NSW 1929 to 1989” by Judith Dunbar

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Information collated and written by Peta Stewart

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If you have any additional information to help us celebrate 60 years of HHNC please Contact Peta at hhncmedia@gmail.com.