THE recent Darling Downs Interdistrict carnival in Roma was more than another opportunity for Fassifern’s most exciting junior netballers to display their skills and connect.
It gave supportive netball mums like Emma Ehrich a chance to share in the enjoyable sporting experience.
Emma has made it a tradition for the past six years to take Fassifern photos and cheer on the teams.
Emma’s daughter Sophie represented the Fassifern 15/16 years side in Roma.
Sophie has been in the representative program since 2021.
Sophie’s older sister Matilda was involved in the Fassifern representative program in 2019, 2021, 2023 and last year.
Emma organized the dinner for 70 Fassifern people in Roma, along with taking photos of the three junior teams.
Fassifern Netball Association president Amanda Dover appreciated the efforts of Emma, who was among the 20 Scenic Rim families making the trip west.
Emma said it was delightful being a mum watching the young netballers connect with each other and other teams.
“My daughter Sophie, as one of the younger teenagers, found the road trip aspect of going out to Roma really a lot of fun,” Emma said.
“A lot of people from Fassifern stayed in the same motel and we normally walk together into dinner, which is a lot of fun for the kids, just getting dressed up and going in together.”
Three Fassifern representative teams participated in the carnival – the third in this year’s series of five tournaments around South East Queensland.
“This carnival is always a highlight for the players as they love the excitement of a sleepover and team dinner,” Amanda said.
Fassifern’s 11/12 team won two of their four games, showing improvement during one Saturday match and three Sunday games.
Coach Shantel Fleming was proud of her girls and their performance.
“They played their hearts out and threw it all on the line,” she said.
The 13/14 years netball team that represented Fassifern at the latest carnival.
Fassifern’s 13/14 team had braced for the worst having to play four of the top five teams in their division.
The young netballers prepared with some small achievable team and individual goals at training.
That approach paid off as the girls came out firing, going on to win two of their four matches.
“The growth in this team and the composure they played with all day was just amazing,” coach Amanda said.
“I was so proud of all of them. They really showed up for each other and worked so hard as a team.”
Fassifern’s 15/16 years netball team that gained valuable experience in Roma.
Fassifern’s 15/16 team was up against some tough competition with only one division in their age group.
The group of players turning 15 this year displayed great spirit and enormous growth as a team against some fiery and at times physical opposition.
Coach Narelle Smith said she believed the girls played in their best carnival yet.
She too was incredibly proud of their efforts, looking for more improvement at the next two Darling Downs representative carnivals at Highfields (July 20) and in Toowoomba (August 17).
The Fassifern teams are also preparing for the annual Scenic Rim carnival being held at the Boonah courts on July 27.
Mum Emma said it was also pleasing seeing a number of Fassifern junior representative netballers now playing together in the Monday night Open Division.
That includes year 11 students from Boonah State High who started their netball at the Boonah courts.