Diamond Creek Netball Club tour Top End

Junior netballers from an amateur club in Melbourne are spending their school holidays immersing themselves in the Top End’s netball community. Read what they’re up to.

Top (L-R) Stacey Gannon (coach), Izzy Clarke, Zali Lawrence, Siaan Dunkcan, Jess Hoffman, Mia D’Arcenglo, Ally Pilakis Keeley Mighall, Izzy Brennan, Sienna Beddoe, Lauren Pilakis (coach) and Bottom (L-R) Alis Stocco, Georgia Stadus, Gemma Attard, Charlotte Aggett, Abi Baldwin, Malaika Baya, Bonnie Brown, Eliza Sadler, Ashton Simmons, Brooke George (coach) from Melbourne's Diamond Creek Netball Club are spending their school holidays experiencing netball in the NT and creating memories along the way. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

High school students from Diamond Creek Netball Club are spending their school break soaking in all things NT.

The Melbourne based amateur netball club made the journey north to experience what netball and life is like in the Top End, the trip their second and first since the covid pandemic.

Up north for 10 days, the group of high school students and chaperones have been out sightseeing, bonding and training with local clubs.

“It’s been awesome so far, and a trip of a lifetime for lots of us,” club president Brooke George said.

“We’ve had sessions out at the Marrara complex and courts which was fantastic and we’ve spent some time with local sides like Casuarina Cougars, going through drills and a few mini matches.”

Diamond Creek Netball Club mid training session while on their trip to the Top End. Picture: Facebook.

Water breaks and sunscreen have been top of the agenda for the southerners who, despite preparing as best they could for the heat, were no match for the Top End sun.

With sun-kissed shoulders and water bottles in hand, the group is braving Cahills Crossing, with Jabiru and Gunbalanya their next stop.

“This time we are here during your (NT’s) school break too, so we’re really excited to have the opportunity to run some Net Set Go clinics out there,” George said.

“And as part of our contribution to them having us as guests and letting us be a part of their netball community, we’re donating some balls, bibs and cones to the sports library they’re putting together.

“We’ve got a mix of senior and junior girls with us, so they’ll be able to help out with kids of all different age groups which is very cool.”

The group will make the trip back to Darwin for grand final day, and are already planning their next trip.