THERE were plenty of smiles and excited juniors in Bathurst on Tuesday as former Australian netball representative Liz Ellis arrived in the city to help run a clinic.
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Ms Ellis is one of the best-known names in Australian netball having helped the national side earn three World Championships and two Commonwealth Games gold medals.
Surrounded by an joyous group of Central West girls, Ms Ellis said it was a fantastic feeling to help teach the next generation of netball players.
“I grew up in Western Sydney and we didn’t have these opportunities. There weren’t coaching clinics around when I was a kid, whereas now there’s a proliferation of them in Sydney but they don’t get regional very often,” Ms Ellis said.
“When I was offered to opportunity to take some clinics regionally, I jumped at it. We did Lismore – before it went underwater – Tamworth and now here and it’s been great to take this experience and opportunity to regional areas and see these kids lap it up.
“I’ve been coming to Bathurst for 25 years so to be able to come here and deliver this clinic is really special to me.
“To see so many turning up not only from Bathurst but from Orange, Dubbo and all over the Central West is fabulous. It made it even better when I saw how good their skills are. I was just putting the icing on the cake today because their basic skills are fantastic.”
Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger was pleased to see Ms Ellis offer her support to the region’s players.
“It’s fantastic to have a person of her stature here. She has played at the highest of levels. To be here this morning and see her interaction with the girls and the way she encourages everybody is great,” Cr Hanger said.
“She is such a great, involved person.”
