Watch: Molly Watters, Raemi Morris to represent Kangaroo Island in Netball SA Country Championships live stream from 9am Saturday (Netball SA Country Championships )

Back on court after bushfires destroyed their club, these young guns will represent Kangaroo Island with pride at this weekend’s Netball SA Country Championships. Watch 101 games live here.

Patrick Keam

@patkeam

2 min read

June 14, 2021 - 10:33AM

The Messenger

Sport

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When Molly Watters and Raemi Morris take to the court this Saturday to represent Kangaroo Island it will be about more than just netball.

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Fiercely passionate for their region, the pair was among the countless families affected when the 2019/20 bushfires ravaged the island.

Their netball club, Western Districts, had its building destroyed in the devastating inferno and both of their family properties were torn apart.

While the journey to regain normality in their lives remains a struggle, Molly said she would be proud to line up for KI’s under-15 team at this long weekend’s Netball SA Country Championships.

Molly Watters and Raemi Morris were among the families affected by the Kangaroo Island bushfires. Now the Western Districts pair will line up at the Netball SA Country Championships, to be live streamed by The Advertiser. Picture: Sean McGowan

More than 100 regional sides will take part in the three-day tournament, with The Advertiser and The Messenger set to live stream 101 games.

“On the island we’re lucky to have a really good community, so I’m proud to represent KI and Western Districts,” Molly, 14, said.

“A few days before it (the clubrooms) burnt down, we were actually there because the fire was around my place and we went up to the footy club to stay the night there.

“It was pretty horrific, everything was wiped out really quickly.

“We lost all of our sheds, caravans, rain water tanks and the fire came to a metre before the house.

“If it wasn’t for mum and my uncle coming in the morning at 4am to water down the house, it probably would have gone as well.”

Netballers Raemi Morris and Molly Watters, pictured near the courts at Western Districts on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Sean McGowan

Raemi said her family lost about 70 per cent of its farm, but received help from near and far.

“There was about 60km of fencing to do (repair), but we got lots of help from the community and the army especially, and cousins came over from WA and helped out,” Raemi said.

“Everyone’s working together really nicely. I think it’s brought the whole community in closer.”

While there is a lot of work still ahead for those on KI to restore their home, the green shoots and building blocks are beginning to show.

Funding from the State Government, AFL, Cricket Australia and the Kangaroo Island Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund Committee will go towards a new $4 million home for the Western Districts Football and Netball Club.

The remains of the Western Districts sports clubrooms, after they were destroyed in the Kangaroo Island bushfires. Picture: Matt Loxton

Construction will commence later this year and is expected to be completed in 2022.

Molly, who spends her Saturdays playing senior netball and boys football for Western Districts, said it was difficult to explain just how much the rebuild would mean to the community.

But for now her focus is on doing KI proud this weekend at Netball SA Stadium.

“If we could win it would mean a lot,” she said.

The country championships are SA’s pinnacle event for regional talent, featuring senior, 17 and under, 15 and under, 13 and under, and 11 and under divisions.

In one of our most ambitious live sports broadcasts to date, all 26 participating associations will feature in at least one streamed match.

Coverage begins at 9am on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.