Kerrie Turner (Mouthaan) - My Redan Story

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January 2019

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Where did you grow up and what are some of your earliest netball memories and junior highlights?

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I grew up in Adelaide. My earliest memories of netball are me being ‘dragged’ to club trials by my parents and telling them over and over “I don’t WANT to play netball. I’m going to be no good at it. I just want to stay at home” I was seven.

 

In hindsight, them dragging me to trials was the best thing I ever did. I played all my junior netball with a then-State League club in Adelaide, called Cheerio. Turned out I wasn’t too bad at it!

 

I have played in premierships, moved into the coaching side of things and made some lifelong friendships through netball.

 

In my opinion, you can’t beat the comradery that comes with team sport.

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Who or what was is that attracted you to Redan in 2003 and what were your initial impressions?

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I moved to Ballarat for work in mid 2001. I gave myself 18 months to settle in and during that time filled in here and there for a mid-week netball team at Llanberris to help out a girl from work.

 

I realised I was missing my netball and wanted to be more than a ‘fill-in’ but because of my early starts for work, couldn’t commit to the late mid-week games.

 

Lake Wendouree had approached me early on, but the timing wasn’t right for me. Then through some guys I worked with I met Craig Jackson. He put Trudy Hawker in touch with me and between Jacko and Trude, they both ‘sold’ Redan to me, and so I got on board as a player, but also as U18 coach.

 

The strong sense of club environment and genuine welcoming feel was very impressive.

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What position did you play and can you describe yourself as a netballer?

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I certainly wouldn’t say I’m a natural. I’ve played in teams where girls just make it look effortless. From day one, I have had to work bloody hard for a spot in a team, and then to hold that spot.

 

For me, the key was finding a way to make training fun – then the enjoyment was higher. As a junior I was a GK. Then I switched to the other end and played GS. At Redan I wouldn’t say I had cemented a position in the team. I played GK, GD, WD, GS. The old “anywhere but centre” player is what I am!!

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Season 2004 saw the A Grade side reach the Grand Final against Sebastopol. What are your memories of that match?

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What. A Day. We were written off early in the finals series. No one expected us to make it past week one. Then we’d suddenly taken everyone by surprise and won through to the decider!

 

We kept the week leading up to the match pretty ‘normal’ as far as training and routine. It was really only match day that was different. We wanted to all arrive as a team, so all met at Trudy’s place and then traveled to the Eastern Oval in a mini-bus.

 

The sense of team was huge that day. The sidelines were filled with so much support from within the club and we absolutely played our guts out. We were there, we’d earned that spot and even though we were underdogs, why didn’t we have a right to win that trophy?

 

We didn’t win it, but we didn’t disgrace ourselves. We walked from that court knowing we had given it our all and had a red hot crack. It just wasn’t to be, but what an amazing season it had been. I loved being part of it. Aaaaand, we celebrated that night and the next day as if we had won!

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What was it like playing under Julie Burke and what did you feel was her greatest attribute as a coach?

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Julie Burke – what a champ. She terrified me early on, with her no nonsense persona. But it didn’t take long to realise it was all a front. Jules had the respect of every girl, she worked us hard, and expected a lot from us.

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We didn’t want to disappoint her – or have to do more running than was necessary at training – so listened. Soaked up her advice and experience. She brought together a mish-mash of girls and talent and turned us into Grand Finalists.

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She was such a ‘mum’ figure for the whole team – and really, the entire netball program at Redan.

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Who were the top five players you played alongside and your toughest opponent?

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The girls that had all known Jules from her Horsham days were key to creating that real sense of ‘team’. They knew what Jules expected. They loved being part of a team, and I personally think they are the ones that just helped us form such a tight bond and great culture.

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Brianna Burke, Zoe Heard, Rachel Thomson, Raelene McIntyre and Abby. Then thrown Trudy Hawker in there, who ‘was’ Redan. Ok.. so I have a top six!

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Toughest opponent would have been ‘Murph’. Kathryn Murphy. Such a fierce competitor, made you really earn the ball, but was always the first to shake your hand and have a laugh after the match.

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How did the standard of competition compare with other leagues you’ve played in?

 

The BFL netball league was very impressive. I remember wondering early on if it would be a bit of a ‘forgotten’ add on to the footy side of things. But it didn’t take me long to realise it was super competitive. It was no different really to the club netball I had played for years, back home.

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​Can you shed some light on some of the people who have helped drive netball at the club, in particular the likes of Jo Jess and Trudy Hawker during your time.

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Trudy Hawker, in my opinion, was the heart and soul of netball at Redan. With her infectious laugh and warm, friendly smile. She did it all, and some. A true club person who wanted success and for the netball program to be the best it could be.

 

Behind the scenes was the very hard working Jo Jess. People not directly involved in the netball side of things wouldn’t have known just what Jo did for us. The most organised of team managers!

 

And then I think getting Julie Burke on board was a huge tick for the club. As previously mentioned, she brought with her some amazing girls with a real club-and-team first attitude. She expected success and knew how to get it out of us!

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What would you say are some of your best memories of the club?

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I remember our weekly netball dinners at La Porchetta. It wasn’t compulsory by any means, just a regular standing for whoever could pop in for a quick bite. Some weeks there were only three or four girls.. other weeks, the entire squad would be there!

 

Those nights were always noisy and filled with plenty of laughs. The car-pooling for away games was always good fun. The annual club ball was never boring...really, the list goes on!

 

The friendships I have made through the club, and the laughs we had at training, on game day and on nights out are things I will look back fondly on forever. Even though I wasn’t a local, and my work could have taken me away from Ballarat at any point, I had a real sense of belonging...the club really did welcome me from day one.

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Is there are particular win that really stands out during your three seasons?

 

For me, the obvious stand out match was when we won through to the Grand Final. But I also remember a match in Melton where we were behind all day but Jules gave us a huge rev up at ¾ time, said we were still in it and were the better team and deserved to win.

 

We left nothing in the tank that day, everyone went up a notch and played amazing netball and we did get the win!

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How would you describe the culture and the social aspect of Redan?

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It’s always been a very social club. Lots of fun events on the calendar throughout each year. The culture is one other clubs were surely always envious of. Redan is such a family club. Lots of friendly faces, welcoming embraces and happy smiles.

 

You just had to walk into the ‘den’ and instantly you could see that everyone mixed well and got along. Everyone was always very inclusive.

 

Have you been back to watch Redan play since you left in 2005 and what do you make of the club finally having a court at the City Oval?

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There’s a court at the City Oval!? FINALLY!!! It was always tough playing our home games at Clarendon College, away from the football, because we had very little support on the sidelines throughout the season.

 

Unfortunately I haven’t been back to watch Redan play but would certainly love to do so one day. And I would LOVE to see the court at the City Oval!

 

I remember that being on the wishlist when I was involved in the club. I’m so thrilled it’s happened! How exciting!

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What did you make of the club’s maiden A Grade title in 2011?

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It was always only a matter of time! To the girls in that side, well done on doing what we couldn’t in 2004 – you will always hold a huge and important place in the club’s history.

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Where are you these days and do you still have any involvement with the sport?

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These days, after 12 years of moving around for my work, I’m back home in Adelaide. I work as a Senior Journalist and News Reader for the city’s number one rating radio station, Mix 102.3. I am also a registered Marriage Celebrant.

 

I am married and have two small children – Piper who is three and Beau who is almost one. Unfortunately my diary is so ridiculously busy, the only involvement I have in netball nowadays, is throwing and catching the ball in the backyard with my little girl. “We’re playing netball mummy! I want to play netball like you when I’m a big girl mummy”

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Do you feel the advent of the Women's AFL will have a positive or negative impact on Netball participation?

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I think the introduction of the Women’s AFL is fabulous for female sport. It is exciting to think that my daughter has that as an option, if it’s something she wishes to pursue.

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But at the moment, there are limited opportunities for girls to play football at an elite level. While that may change in the long term, for the immediate future I believe that netball participation will continue to grow and thrive.

 

The beauty of netball is that competition can start from a young age, and it gives a clear pathway through to senior netball within a club.

 

What advice do you have for the junior netballers starting their careers at Redan?

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Embrace the club! Dive right in and get involved in all facets. Clubs need their people to keep the wheels rolling, and in turn you will be rewarded with an amazing extended family that will support you, love you, encourage you and watch you grow!

 

Go Lions!

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