FERNTREE GULLY NETBALL
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  • 60th Anniversary
    • Life Member Stories: Jaki Mitchell
    • Life Member Stories: Melissa Rosie
    • Life Member Stories: Karen Bennett
    • Life Member Stories: Michelle Keats
    • Life Member Stories: Phil Thorneycroft
    • Life Member Stories: Jenny Block
    • Life Member Stories: Wendy Bliss

Life Member Stories

Jenny Block

After beginning my netball journey at age 15 at Fairpark, I soon switched over to Gully to play with my best friend. During my first year of University in Ballarat, I continued driving home each weekend for my Ferntree Gully game.  After a few years playing in Ballarat I returned home, and played in various FTG open teams with the same 5 players, who to this day I keep in contact with. A memorable moment was the season when I came back to play exactly 6 weeks after giving birth to my second daughter. I remember having the third quarter off one game and breastfeeding on the sidelines. I won B&F that year - maybe the umpires couldn’t believe it. But when I say my kids have grown up on the sidelines they literally have!

I remember training on the asphalt courts at Wally Tew.  They were so rough you avoided falling over at all costs. Back then the uniforms were a white polo and blue skirt. You always judged your opponent by the number of badges on their skirt. It didn’t matter if it was a patch for Best Conducted Team or a premiership - it was a sign of pride. Too bad I didn’t know how to sew!

I joined the committee when my eldest Maddie started playing. I wished to give back to the club, set a good example for my children and help out. I was too nervous to coach her first season, but the following year I mustered up the courage to return to coaching. Everyone I meet at Gully influences me in some way, but having Hayley Mettes come into the Head Coach role and mentor me to take on the Head Coach position for Mods/11’s and take higher level teams has been impactful.

The AGM where I took over as Vice President was another interesting night. I had gone promising my husband I would just continue with uniforms. It was only when the husband of the old Vice President came to our house that Nathan found out the truth… a good week later! Let’s just say he was a little surprised. Each year we are faced with new and old challenges, from teams training individually and only having one third of a court to use before we moved to squad training, to trying to keep players enthusiasm for netball during COVID-19 Pandemic.

To those who think they’re not good enough or not fit enough, I’m living proof that it doesn’t matter. I only started playing A Reserve in my late 30’s having previously played in low open divisions. The club gave me an opportunity that I am so grateful for. It doesn’t matter what level you play - take the opportunity and just enjoy it! Gully has given me many opportunities and allowed me to meet many people who I’m lucky enough to call my friends.




Ferntree Gully Netball Club acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land where we play netball, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • 2025 Committee
    • Committee Job Descriptions
    • 2025 Calendar
    • Training
    • Team Managers
    • Grading Policies
    • Coaches
    • Annual Reports and Bylaws
  • Membership
    • Registration
    • Fees
    • Uniform
  • News
  • Sponsors
  • Codes of conduct
    • Player Code of Conduct
    • Spectator Code of Conduct
    • Coach Code of Conduct
    • Committee Code of Conduct
    • Cybersafety Policy
  • Contact
  • 60th Anniversary
    • Life Member Stories: Jaki Mitchell
    • Life Member Stories: Melissa Rosie
    • Life Member Stories: Karen Bennett
    • Life Member Stories: Michelle Keats
    • Life Member Stories: Phil Thorneycroft
    • Life Member Stories: Jenny Block
    • Life Member Stories: Wendy Bliss