2019 marks Kerryn Conabere’s 50th consecutive year of playing netball. The Australian Masters Games participant said that one of her greatest highlights of her time on the court thus far, has been playing in the same team as all four of her daughters.
Starting netball when she was twelve years old, Conabere fell in love with the sport from the moment she begun.
“I filled in for a school friend when I was in form four, and her mother was in the team. I thought it would be awesome to play with your mum. I thought if I ever had a daughter, I want to play long enough so that I can play with her.
“Little did I know that I would have four daughters and get to play with all of them,” Conabere exclaimed.
In 2002, the Traralgon local formed a team with her daughters in the Morwell Indoor Netball Competition.
“My mum came to watch one game, and as she was sitting there, and another spectator said, ‘Do all the players in that team call that lady mum?’ My mum replied…only her daughters!” Conabere said.
The active 61-year-old still plays two times a week in two different indoor netball competitions, as well as umpiring on Saturdays for the North Gippsland Football Netball League (which she has been doing for 47 years).
Conabere is looking forward to her sixth consecutive Masters Games in Adelaide this October.
“It’s a whole week where I get to get up every morning and do the thing I love doing most – playing netball.
“I love netball because it’s my time. It’s always been amazing being able to run around the court knowing its good for my health and wellbeing, as well as all the amazing friends I have met along the way.”
“Over the years I’ve played with so many different people…people such as Lisa Alexander in fact!”
Conabere played with the Australian Diamonds coach in the Victorian Churches State Side, where Lisa was entered the senior side in Conabere’s final years of playing in the team.
Conabere currently has six grandchildren, with twin girls who are turning eight years old soon, and her goal is to continue playing netball until her granddaughters are old enough to be in the same team as her.
“The team would be complete with my four daughters and two granddaughters,” Conabere said with content.
With netball providing Conabere with such a great deal of joy, positive mental health, stability and fitness, there is no stopping Conabere with her mission to play with her granddaughters in the upcoming years.
We wish Kerryn the best for her Masters tournament, which will run from Monday 7 October to Friday 11 October at the SA United Church Netball Association’s City Courts.
