Lyn is a life member of the WestGippsland Netball Association, which was deserted by all nine of its member clubs this year.By Glen Atwell
For much of her life, Lyn Vears thought of Pakenham as halfway to a holiday. The former administrator of the now deserted West Gippsland Netball Association (WGNA) used to hate passing through the place.
“I lived in Abbotsford in my younger years and my family holidayed in Paynesville.
“We used to arrive in Pakenham and only be about halfway to our destination,” Lyn said. “I hated it.”
The 51yearold Tynong resident has devoted much of her life to local sport and has more sporting experience than most.
“I’ve played netball, basketball, squash, tennis and golf,” she says.
Until this year, Lyn was an administrator of the WGNA, but every member netball club deserted the proud association and followed their affiliated football clubs to three neighbouring football/netball leagues after the breakup of the West Gippsland Football League last year.
Lyn said that after devoting more than 20 years to running local sports, the whole experience has left a sour taste in her mouth.
“The WGNA is still incorporated this year, but we officially close in October.
“There are no clubs in the association this year; they all scrambled at the end of last season,” Lyn said.
But Lyn said there are a number of reasons the WGNA is still incorporated.
“This year is our 65th birthday; we wanted to stay around to achieve that.
“And there are also a number of processes we need to go through before officially closing the doors.”
According to Lyn, it was the former clubs involved with the WGNA that slammed the door shut on the league.
“We are very disappointed with how things happened.
“We were never told by any of the clubs what was going on.
“We had an idea that Tooradin and ROC were leaving, and that sparked a chain reaction.”
Lyn and husband Graeme still can’t believe they ended up moving from Coburg to Pakenham in 1983.
“I said to Graeme, I don’t believe this; how can we move to a place we don’t like.
“But Graeme said, we never gave it a chance, and we hadn’t.
“It was a great move in the end,” Lyn said.
After trying her luck in squash, playing pennant at the Coburg Squash Centre, Lyn eventually reverted to netball.
Lyn’s daughter Sherie sparked the move.
“Sherie played midgets for Pakenham Netball Club and that’s how it all began.
“Back then they thought kids were too young to play. How that has all changed.”
Lyn and Graeme have three children, Dale, 32, Sherie, 29, and Jamie, 26.
Sherie’s netball career was cut short after she required a knee reconstruction at just 18 years old.
Lyn never played netball in the WGNA but began coaching at Pakenham and ended up on the committee.
Watching the juniors grow up and progress through the age groups was the thing Lyn most enjoyed.
“I watched them through all the age groups; now they are getting married – it’s unbelievable,” she said.
Lyn said that being involved for so long required a passion for the sport.
“You needed to be dedicated. I loved the juniors that’s what kept me going for so long.
“I coached the midweek midgets with Jenny Burridge. It was a great experience.
“The thing about juniors is they never back chat – or not as much as the seniors.”
After moving to Tynong in 1993, Lyn remained involved with Pakenham Netball Club but her mutual involvement with the WGNA caused some trouble.
“I started copping flak from clubs because I was involved with Pakenham and administering the WGNA at the same time.
“I had to draw a line and make a decision, either stay involved with Pakenham or be an independent WGNA administrator,” she said.
Lyn said even after deciding to leave Pakenham Netball Club, people still won’t let go of their concerns.
“Still, up until today, people ask me if I am still involved with Pakenham Netball Club and the WGNA.
“It’s bizarre how important sport is to people in this area; it is huge,” she said.
Lyn says the WGNA was an efficient and professionally run organisation which did not deserve the treatment it received when the nine member clubs deserted it.
“We were not in any danger of collapsing or folding; we were a strong association,” she said.
Lyn said the association was full of dedicated people who were not willing to jump ship when things turned bad.
“When the clubs started leaving, a lot of people within the association could have jumped as well, but we hung on.
“It is a testament to how strong we were as an association,” Lyn said.
“Everyone fought for what was right for West Gippsland.”
But with no associated clubs, Lyn said to keep fighting would be pointless.
“It’s gone, it’s all gone and once it’s gone, you won’t get it back.
“It’s really, really bad.
“A lot of families aren’t prepared to travel all that way to play one game of netball,” she said.
Lyn said when travelling time exceeds playing time, people can question their involvement.
Said she would give credit where credit was due.
“The WestGippsland Latrobe Netball Association are doing some great things with juniors,” she said.
Lyn said having a break from the sport is a welcome lifestyle change and she’s now swapping netballs for golf balls.
“I’m glad to have a break, but I’ve met some wonderful people who I’ll never forget,” she said.
Playing at Garfield Golf Club, Lyn has discovered her next sporting passion.
“I am really enjoying the golf, my handicap is 27 but I’ve had a run of bad luck with injury,” she said.
Lyn stepped into a ditch and fractured her foot in May but, due to her competitive spirit, kept playing.
“It hurt but I kept on playing, it took me over a month to finally get to the doctors and have the fracture diagnosed.
“Now I’m in a brace and I’m not supposed to drive but I sneak out sometimes,” she laughed.
