Trailblazing NIAS netball squad to tour New Zealand

This six-strong Gunnedah contingent will break new ground with the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) later this year.

The girls are preparing for a nine-day tour with the NIAS netball academy to New Zealand in September.

The trip will be the first of any NIAS sport to tour overseas, according to sport and events officer, Brent Hartley.

But these visits don’t come cheap and each player has been busily raising funds to help cover travel and accommodation expenses.

Babysitting, dog-walking, waitress duties and tutoring are some of the jobs already undertaken by the proactive athletes.

A fund-raising highlight will be the Fitness Extravaganza on Saturday morning at the Gunnedah PCYC.

The aim of the event is fun and prizes will be awarded for novelty championship claims such as Best Push-Up, Best Burpee, Best Plank, Best Beginner. More novelty categories are expected to be announced on the day.

A barbecue breakfast, cake stall, fruit stick offerings and 100 club will follow the fitness event – all of which will help boost the fund-raising tally.

The girls will be based in Christchurch while in New Zealand. 

Their itinerary features training with elite NZ netball coaches as well as matches, a celebrity breakfast with a guest netball player, a visit to the International Antarctic Centre, an aerial ropes course and sight-seeing at Hanmer Springs.

RELATED STORY: "Six Gunnedah reps selected for 2016 NIAS Academy"

The Gunnedah players, who all study at St Mary’s College, plan to cramp in as much fund-raising as they can before the representative netball season starts in the coming weeks.

Entry to Saturday’s Fitness Extravaganza costs $10 for adults with child-minding available and starts 8am. Cost for the kids’ session is $5 and starts 9.15am. To book, contact Maryanne Perkins (0427 652 909) as soon as possible.

If you have a job for Gunnedah’s NIAS athletes, contact the above number as well.