Sporting legend Kelli Halden jumps through hoops at Tallygaroopna

KELLI Halden personifies everything good about grassroots sport in country Victoria. She has multiple roles at her beloved Tallygaroopna Football Netball Club.

Kelli Halden from Shepparton will be playing her 500th game of netball with Tallygaroopna on the 12th of July. Pic by Simon Dallinger.

KELLI Halden personifies everything good about grassroots sport in country Victoria.

On Saturdays during winter you will find her on a netball court, playing, coaching, training, umpiring, organising functions or rattling tins to raise money for her beloved Tallygaroopna Football Netball Club.

The Goulburn Valley team in the Kyabram District League has been a second home for Halden since she started playing seniors at age 13 in 1987 after a stint playing juniors for nearby Katandra.

She has given everything she could for “Tally’’ since.

In 2008 she played and coached the A grade team to its first premiership while pregnant with her second child. She has won 10 best and fairest awards along the way, coached 12 different teams across all grades and filled more volunteer admin roles than anyone can remember.

Off the court, she has been netball president three times, secretary four times, secretary of the football club, lobbied for new lights for the grounds and courts and been honoured with life membership of the league for efforts outside her own club.

Today, Halden will play her 500th match for her club, 384 A grade and 116 B grade turnouts. And her community could not be prouder.

Just ask Tallygaroopna netball vice-president Kathleen Steigenberger who describes Halden as “the heart and soul” of the club.

To nominate for a Pride of Australia medal, go to heraldsun.com.au/prideofaustralia