Life Member Stories
Jaki Mitchell
I joined FTG in 1982 as they had ladies teams playing during the week. We used to play on the old bitumen courts at Wally Tew, shared a little club room with the footballers and public toilets with all. Our lights sometimes worked - we often had to shake the poles for the lights to come on. And many a time there were cars parked on the courts due to overflow from the football. We wore black Dunlop super shots as our netball shoes of preference.
After joining a Saturday team at the club, I became a committee member, coach and the umpires convenor. At the time we had 38 teams, so you can imagine how long it took to find 38 umpire each week with a dial telephone once they returned home from work. No one was paid to umpire or coach. Umpire payments were introduced in 1986 at $4 per game.
From my time at Gully, two of the most influential people I worked with were Mrs Mac and Avril Jones. Mrs Mac was President when I joined and recognised that everyone had a place whether elite or social. Avril Jones inspired players to study the rule book and challenged me to take up umpiring when I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I’m grateful for the lifelong friendships I've developed and I enjoy seeing kids that I coached now coaching.
I’m particularly proud of the FTG umpire development program that produced lots of A Grade Umpires, as well as numerous premierships in A Grade and the club moving to Knox Regional Netball Centre. I recall Presentation Night one year with the theme Aladdin. We had professional belly dancers, a live snake charmer, chickens in cages and every team had to perform part of the Aladdin Stage Show.
One of my more memorable moments as a coach was when Netball Victoria held an Age Group Finals Day. For example, if you won 15/1 at your Association you then played against all other winning 15/1 teams from the metropolitan region to crown the State Champions. I was fortunate to coach the winning team.
FTG Netball Club has seen many changes over the years. In 1992 the club relocated to Knox Regional Netball Centre as the Wally Tew courts deteriorated and became unsafe. FTG controversially became the first club to introduce body dresses at MDNA. Gully has always given people of all abilities the opportunity to be part of a club and a sense of belonging. I am very proud to be a Life Member. I hope current and future Gully players play because they love it and remember to be humble when you win.
After joining a Saturday team at the club, I became a committee member, coach and the umpires convenor. At the time we had 38 teams, so you can imagine how long it took to find 38 umpire each week with a dial telephone once they returned home from work. No one was paid to umpire or coach. Umpire payments were introduced in 1986 at $4 per game.
From my time at Gully, two of the most influential people I worked with were Mrs Mac and Avril Jones. Mrs Mac was President when I joined and recognised that everyone had a place whether elite or social. Avril Jones inspired players to study the rule book and challenged me to take up umpiring when I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I’m grateful for the lifelong friendships I've developed and I enjoy seeing kids that I coached now coaching.
I’m particularly proud of the FTG umpire development program that produced lots of A Grade Umpires, as well as numerous premierships in A Grade and the club moving to Knox Regional Netball Centre. I recall Presentation Night one year with the theme Aladdin. We had professional belly dancers, a live snake charmer, chickens in cages and every team had to perform part of the Aladdin Stage Show.
One of my more memorable moments as a coach was when Netball Victoria held an Age Group Finals Day. For example, if you won 15/1 at your Association you then played against all other winning 15/1 teams from the metropolitan region to crown the State Champions. I was fortunate to coach the winning team.
FTG Netball Club has seen many changes over the years. In 1992 the club relocated to Knox Regional Netball Centre as the Wally Tew courts deteriorated and became unsafe. FTG controversially became the first club to introduce body dresses at MDNA. Gully has always given people of all abilities the opportunity to be part of a club and a sense of belonging. I am very proud to be a Life Member. I hope current and future Gully players play because they love it and remember to be humble when you win.