BATHURST’S Hannah-Lee Williams will become an Australian representative next month when she journeys to the Gold Coast for the International Netball Festival.
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Williams, 11, impressed in January’s Australian Indigenous Schoolgirls Netball Championships and earned a spot in the national indigenous under 12s team.
Remarkably, the opportunity to attend January’s tournament – also held on the Gold Coast – almost didn’t eventuate for Williams.
“The Bathurst representative trials were on but the NSW trials were on the same day in Sydney. She stayed here for the local trials but then was invited by one of the Queensland teams to come up and play for them,” Williams’ father Dave said.
“She was able to play for Queensland again the other state teams and she was lucky enough to be called up to the national team.
“When playing there you’ve got to be selected to go into the trials and then from there you can get selected from the trials.
“She loves her netball. She plays here with Mana and the Bathurst Young Mob and has been away on rep games to Sydney, so it’s netball all year. We love travelling around with her and watching her play.”
Out of around 90 kids who tried out for a spot in one of the two Budgies Austraian Indigenous Schoolgirls teams Williams was one of the fortunate players to make the cut.
It feels really great. I was really hoping to make it.
- Hannah-Lee Williams
Williams now has the opportunity to play against national teams for the first time, with Fiji and New Zealand squads expected to attend the upcoming International Netball Festival.
While playing for Queensland against her home state of New South Wales was a funny experience for Williams she was thrilled to have the chance to play at the Indigenous Schoolgirls Netball Championships.
“I felt really excited that I get to play again there,” she said.
“It feels really great. I was really hoping to make it.”
The International Netball Festival runs from April 21 to 25.
If anyone would like to donate or sponsor to help with cost of accommodation, travel and uniform Williams’ family can be reached via email at hannahleenetball@gmail.com.