netball club
[wptb id=6382]1971 – Current
In 1971, the collaborating heads of Nettie Ramm, Vivienne Ramm and Helen McDonald found some willing Nyabing locals and additional recruits from Katanning to create and join the Nyabing Netball Club. The team joined the Katanning Netball Association and played there until 1978.
Training was held on the Nyabing Tennis courts and Glenda Germain recalls Helen McDonald being an extremely tough coach. Something that more recent members can familiarise with Glenda’s own coaching!
In 1971, Nyabing played in the B Grade Division and won its very first Grand Final. Winning the trifecta of first semi, preliminary and the grand final. Five of the original team members received fairest and best votes for the season: G Badger (7), G Germain (2), V Ramm (4), H McDonald (9), B Obst (2)
Early uniforms consisted of green knee length tunics with a gold tassel belt and pull over netball bibs. Later down the track, the team had a sewing busy bee and made their own uniforms. Red & White checked tops and black skirts.
Due to the 1971 B Grade Premiership, the following year Nyabing was bumped up to the A Division. Member’s fees cost just $5 per person for seniors, $2 for juniors and 20c if you happened to just fill in a game. Katanning Netball Association records show that in 1972 Glenda Germain was awarded the Fairest & Best player. The Team consisted of: Glenda Germain, H Jury, Ann Coles, Lynette Jolly, Helen McDonald, D Obst, Kate Ogle, G Badger, Beryl Obst, S Davies, and Nettie Ramm.
B Grade Premiers 1971
Back L-R: Glenda Germain, Ann Coles, Gail Badger, Helen McDonald (Capt)
Front: Beryl Obst, Cheryl Cheetham,Vivian Ramm, Lynette Jolly
(Photo courtesy Beryl Obs
Nyabing Netball Team 1972
Back: Helen McDonald, Nettie Ramm, Gail Kent
Front: Vivienne Ramm, Beryl Obst, Glenda Germain
In 1973 Netball was becoming increasingly popular, with 20 registered players in the year. Nyabing was able to submit two teams, split into the A & C Grades.
A Grade :
A Coles, H McDonald, G Germain, R Broadhurst, B Obst, K Ogle, B Obst, D Hueppauff, V Ramm
C Grade :
K Emery, R Hobbs, S Smith, J Phillips, D Smith, L Reeves, R Halds, R Broadhurst, K Borlini, C Phillips, C Phillips, J Mills.
In 1975 Nettie Ramm was awarded the Association Runner-Up Fairest & Best for A Grade, as well as the Fairest & Best Country week trophy. This was also another great year for the team, taking out the A Grade Premiership!
Nyabing Netball Club 1974-75
Back: Karen Emery, Cathy Crosby, Kate Ogle.
Middle: Sheryle Harris, Sue Leeuen, Christine Hobley.
Front: Jane Stephens, Megan Tuffley/Bramley, Ellen Davies
First Nyabing Junior Netball Team 1979.
Ongerup Association.
Back: Vicki Foxall, Ellen Davies, Judith Ogle, Jane Stephens. Front: Carol Mills, Lisa Butcher, Neryle Collins.
It wasn’t all wonderful in the Katanning Association though; 1976 saw Nyabing team members receive a black mark against their names as they failed to attend an umpire examination and were fined a whopping $1.00! After eight years of playing competitive netball in the Katanning Association, the opportunity arose in 1979 to join the Kent Districts Football Club and Nyabing Women’s Hockey Club in the Ongerup Association.
Town and club meetings were held before any merger took place and all members were very positive for the change. Joining the Ongerup Association meant that football, hockey and netball would be played on the same day at the same location, making winter sport a family orientated day. Although with this, it also created mayhem, as there was no netball court to play on!
The Shire of Kent was able to organise a court to be created on the western side of the tennis courts. A simple court, levelled and laid with bitumen, two small huts were erected to house the home and away teams and a small wooden scorer’s bench was added. Playing in the Ongerup Association meant another uniform change – the Brown and Gold.
After a new and exciting season for the women in the senior competition it was decided that the children should be encouraged into the sport also. Mrs A Bridson began coaching juniors in 1980; the very first recipient of the Junior Fairest and Best award was N Collins.
1985 – A Grade Premiers:
Back Teena Mills, Jane Stephens, Pam Langley, Gail Kent.
Front: Nettie Ramm, Lisa Butcher, Vivienne Ramm
1985 Junior Netball team
1987 – A Grade Premiers
Back: Vivien Ramm, Glenda Germain, Ellen Davies, Karen Emery, Nettie Ramm.
Front: Pam Langley, Jane Stephens, Andrea Stephens, Gail Harman.
September 1987
Ongerup Netball Associations Inaugural Life Member presented to Nettie Ramm, Nyabing Netball Club.
(In background Genevieve James & Diane Deegan)
Over time the court became weathered and cracked from tree roots and unstable foundations. After many fundraising ventures including countless cake stalls, a Bridal Fashion Parade, Community Dances, hundreds of raffles, a New Year’s ‘Rock & Roll’ Party and a Car Rally. Enough money was raised to be able to match grant funding and Sports Club contributions to be able to install a new netball court to the south of the eastern tennis court.
In the early 1990’s the netball court was constructed and a fence was erected enclosing the courts. This was found to be very useful in preventing stray netballs ending up at the bowling club or even the horse stables! The fence was purpose built with a brick wall section, which was used for tennis practice and netball drills, although on the odd occasion it was also the cause of a few unconscious victims who didn’t see it coming.
2004 – B Grade Premiers
Back: Glenda Germain, Sandy Kornaus, Nicole Baynes, Helen Sternick, Michelle Hams, Chrissie Smith, Kerry Warburton.
Front: Bronwyn Beard, Jayde Hobley, Tanya Wray, Ellaine Brown
2005 – B Grade Premiers
Back: Glenda Germain, Julie Ramm, Nicole Fewson, Sheree Murphy, Kerry Warburton, Jo Corker, Felicity Clegg.
Front : Lyndal Ramm, Tracey Hayes, Janet Davies.
In the late 90’s the Shire of Kent received quotes to research the expenses involved in building a roof over the netball court, quotes came back in excess of $68,000. The project was sidelined only to remain a dream.
Over the years, many upgrades, resurfaces and lighting upgrades have taken place to maintain and improve the facilities. Most recently in March 2011, the Nyabing Netball Club received a grant worth $5764 to resurface the court, in conjunction with their own fundraising efforts and a contribution from the Nyabing Sports Club the members were able to finalise the project. In order to reduce labour costs, the girls got together and spent a day patching cracks on the court.
Ongerup Netball Association
B Grade Premiers 2008
Rear L-R: Leonie Mills, Alyson Brown, Jayde McIvor, Gemma Stephens, Chelsea Sutherland, Desiree Williams.
Front: Kate Johnston, Sallee Tilka, Jessica Tuffley, Richelle Warren, Ellaine Brown
In April 2011 the Nyabing Netball Club received the sad news that Kent Districts had been fixtured out of the approaching Ongerup Association season, due to a loss of another club in the Association and our own falling numbers. It was close to being the end of the Nyabing Netball Club. This after eight years playing in the Katanning Association, and then 32 years in the Ongerup Association; 40 years of Netball!
Players were in despair and wondering what to do for fitness and a social activity. Thankfully, that same month, the club was accepted into the Katanning Association once again. With declining local numbers, the NNC were able to find some willing Katanning friends to play and field a team so that the club could continue into its 41st year. A full loop has now taken place and the club is back to where it originally began.
NNC have always been able to rope in players to side a team. When new women came to town they were always asked “Do you play Netball?” most of the time this was asked before their name was even remembered! People from all walks of life have been members of the Nyabing Netball Club from teachers, principal’s wives, farmer’s wives, friends from out of town and locals. Roping in people to play was sometimes a challenge, occasionally resorting to coaxing players with the promise of a great night out after the game “We just play so that we can drink and dance after”.
There were years where the sidelines were full of prams and toddlers, visiting grandparents, families and eager boyfriends/husbands pretending to show interest in the game but more so of the short skirts!! It was a common sight to see a mother running off to give her baby a half time feed.
The greatest achievements within the club are owed to some very dedicated and influential women; Nettie Ramm, Vivienne Ramm and Glenda Germain. These three women have been involved in the Nyabing Netball Club from the very beginning forming the team in Katanning and then carrying it out to the Ongerup Association. They have had full involvement with fundraising and each having spent a considerable amount of time in coaching and committee roles.
Glenda is still involved today; she is on the sidelines at every game and still assists the club with umpiring duties. The Ramm and Germain families have shown great devotion to the game of netball, more recently Glenda’s daughter, Richelle Warren. Richelle has been involved in the club for 28 years; in playing, coaching and committee roles, and she was the instigator in the team rejoining the Katanning competition in 2011 to continue playing.
The Nyabing Netball club thanks all of its past and current committee members, coaches and players for making 41 years of a strong club. For over four decades women have been able to enjoy the fun, fitness and social life within the Nyabing club. ‘We have had a great run and here’s to the next 40’
CLUB MILESTONES
- Number of playing members: Over 180 (between1986-2011). Records from 1971 to 1986 are unavailable
- Ongerup Netball Association Life Members: J.K. Ramm (Nettie), V.J. Ramm, J.E. Guelfi, G.L. Germain
- Premierships: B Grade = 1980, 2004, 2005, 2008
- Premierships: A Grade = 1985, 1987
- Most games played by an Individual: over 170 – Richelle Warren (nee Germain)
- Numbers of players reaching 50 games: 18
- Numbers of players reaching 100 games: 3
- Number of Coaches: 14 Senior, 22 Junior
JUNIORS
Juniors 1984.
Back: Candy (Candeana) Sadlier, Joy Mills, Nettie Ramm (Coach), Terri Collins, Kathryn Addis.
Front: Rachel Smith, Alison Ramm, Alison Addis, Katie Jury, Cheryl Glasgow
Juniors 2000
Leonie Mills, Gemma Jury, Kayla Hare, Shelly Harris, Shandii Long, Kirby Patterson, Kyla Addis
Juniors 2010
Back: Taylah Tapscott, Lachlan Ramm, Dylan Mills, Jordyn Warren.
Middle: Caitlyn Jolley, Meagan Freeman.
Front: Emma Steele, Ashen Collins, Monique Ramm, Kasey Warren
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