‘I put a nappy on her’: Netball star Laura Geitz welcomes surprise new arrival

Former Australian netball captain Laura Geitz is changing nappies again thanks to a new arrival at her home in regional Queensland.

The old girl had her at “hello” – even in her original salmon pink state.

When Laura Geitz first set eyes on Wulfruna in 2018, it was indeed love at first sight.

The former Australian netball captain pictured her childhood growing up in the little Darling Downs town of Allora, in southern Queensland, and saw something similar for her own growing family in the semirural acreage property in Brookfield.

Laura Geitz at home in Brookfield. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

Since purchasing the classic Queenslander, built circa 1889, Geitz and her husband, Mark Gilbride, have been slowly making the property their own and relishing the “simple life” with their children, Barney, eight, Franky, five, Billie, four, and Pip, two, along with their two dogs, and … a new member of the family – Snowflake, the lamb.

“No more babies, so …” Geitz says. “I would have every animal if I could. Growing up as a kid, I was always the one that was rescuing, you know, the lamb or a calf.

The Brookfield home of Laura Geitz is a circa 1886 Queenslander. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

“It’s such a nice thing for kids to have animals and learn the responsibility of looking

after them, and sometimes seeing that they don’t survive the harsh cycle of life.”

But even her husband objects to the new arrival.

“It’s a bit extreme. She’s on the couch of a morning getting fed and being cuddled,” Geitz says. “I do put a nappy on her.

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“Even Mark’s like; ‘I’m out, I’m off to work, I can’t deal with this!’”

Afternoons and weekends are spent outdoors, sitting on the lattice-adorned wraparound veranda with a coffee and watching the kids play in the pool, the tennis court, or down at the creek that runs through the property.

Toys in the kids’ playroom at Laura Geitz’s home in Brookfield. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

“The kids can be crazy when they get home from school, and tired, and we literally put

our feet on the grass and kick the footy, or go down to the creek,” Geitz says.

“I see a lot of the values that I had as a kid growing up. I mean, we can never live that life. Mark’s business is here in Brisbane, but this is the next best thing.”

Sunlight bounces off the pressed metal ceilings, polished timber floors, VJ walls, and marble fireplace in the play room at the front of the home, which is Geitz’s favourite space.

“When we first moved here, we had it as a study, but now Billie and Pippa are at that beautiful age where they’re just so happy to come in and play with their dolls,” she says.

Laura Geitz says she fell in love with the home when she first saw it in 2018. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

In one corner is an ornate doll’s pram that has clearly seen a few miles.

“This was my pram as a little girl so it’s very special. My grandma bought me that from an antique shop in Paddington.”

The scent of fresh bread emanates from the kitchen, where Geitz has just taken a loaf of sourdough out of the oven.

“This is where I spend my life with four children!” she laughs.

“We’re a family of six, so I feel like I am quite literally in this space all the time, but it’s probably my least favourite part of the house. It’s very much in its raw form, but it does the job at the moment.”

The clawfoot bath tub has been restored to its former glory. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

Geitz says they have plans to renovate and extend the house to accommodate the kids as they get older, but there is no rush.

“I actually really enjoy being in the kitchen and making beautiful food,” she says. “If someone told me that 10 years ago …!”

Everyone eats together of a night at the dining table in the middle of the open-plan living and dining space.

“As a girl growing up, we always had family time around the table. The TV was off and everyone ate together. That’s a value of mine that stands really strong with my own family.”

The original house was salmon pink before Laura Geitz and her husband, Mark Gilbride, had it painted white. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

A clawfoot bathtub has been given a new lease on life and stands proudly on marble herringbone tiles in the main bathroom.

“When we bought this place in 2018, the bathtub was in it’s very original state so we had it restored, along with the entire bathroom actually.

“The kids love getting in the bath together.”

Apart from renovating the bathrooms and painting the exterior white, the house remains mostly in its original condition.

Original fireplaces can be found throughout the heritage home. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

“Mind you, the salmon pink was the one thing that really caught our attention when we’d come out for drives out here on the weekends,” she says.

“We’d always look across the paddock at the pink house and think, that’s amazing.”

Another personal touch of country charm Geitz has added to the home is an antique Singer sewing machine, owned by her grandmother, which has been repurposed into a hallway console.

Fortunately for Snowflake, the newest family member won’t be getting repurposed anytime soon.

“She’s definitely not going to end up on the table as a roast,” Geitz says. “Mark would love that to be the case, but that will not be happening.”

Originally published as ‘I put a nappy on her’: Netball star Laura Geitz welcomes surprise new arrival