Meet one of netball’s rising stars

By Stephanie Smarrelli
 

Proud Wiradjuri woman Tully Bethune picked up a netball for the first time only four years ago but she’s already making waves in the netball world. 

Hailing from the small town of Birregurra in Victoria’s southwest, the 17-year-old’s first love was actually dance. So when she was approached by talents scouts about her netball career, initially she wasn’t interested.  

“My first thought was absolutely no. I'm sticking with dancing,” Tully said. 

“But mum said, ‘actually no, you're not. You're going to give this a shot and if you don't like it. You can always go back to dance.’ I'm glad she made me do it because I loved it.” 

And credit to her mum because Tully’s netball journey is only getting started. 

The teenager who plays for the Geelong Cougars in the VNL has since caught the eye of selectors and has been picked in the Victorian 17U team and Australian 17U teams. 

And from there, her netball journey has taken off. 

MOMENTS FOR LIFE 

Although she hasn’t been playing netball for long, Tully already has many memories that will last a lifetime, including when she found out she had made the state team. 

"There were quite a lot of tears. I'd been looking forward to that moment for a year or so and then to make it, it's an experience, not a lot of people get,” she said. 

“Being in the state team was such an amazing experience, the friendships I built and the level of competition. And being able to work with Gerard Murphy, who's also the men's head coach.”.” 

Tully also lauded her other coaches at Geelong Cougars. 

“They’re just like such an amazing team and environment to be a part of, so there’s not really a particular moment I’m fond of. Everything builds up to the reason why I love this sport,” she said. 

Another memorable moment included representing Victoria at the National Netball Championships in Darwin earlier this year. 

Describing it as a moment she will “never forget”, Tully said the experience was invaluable.  

“Especially being able to experience that with two of my fellow Cougars teammates, Charli Hoey and Mia Aitken,” she said. 

“I learned so much from being up there and that experience gave me a lot of confidence in my everyday netball. 

“The feedback I got was really amazing and it's allowed me to work on things that I need to work on and it helped me develop my netball to be the best it can be.” 

While at the ripe age of 17, Tully has already achieved a lot, she said her biggest win was being named in the Australian squad. 

“I couldn't believe it,” she said. 

“I was with my friend Charli, who also made the squad and we both found out at the same time. We just looked at each other and we instantly knew because we weren’t allowed to say anything but both our parents called us. 

“We looked at each other and we're like, ‘oh my god, no way.” 

PROUD HERITAGE 

Tully has a close relationship with her mother Ainslie who she credits as one of the people she most looks up to in her life. 

“She's always been there for me, she's kind of like my Uber in a way. My family is really supportive and there will always be someone there and I know that I'm supported and loved in whatever I do,” she said. 

Something Tully has been learning more about, with the help of her mum, has been discovering more about her Indigenous heritage, with the family’s roots going back to Rylstone in New South Wales.  

“It’s something that we’re really proud of and it hasn’t been until recently that for whatever reason the family hasn’t ever really discussed it but we’re really proud of it,” Ainslie said. 

Learning about her family’s history is something Tully wants to do more of as she grows older and said she is proud to be part of the Indigenous community. 

And while reflecting on the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball season she highlighted the importance of Indigenous representation in the league. 
 
“It's really great to see other Indigenous women be part of the netball community because it helps raise awareness and share this amazing culture that that's been around for many years and also creates awareness for what we've been through,” she said. 

“It's great to see other people who I can particularly relate to and other cultures as well and to shed a light on that because there's so many other people, young girls and young boys who are involved in this sport and it's great to create an awareness for everyone.” 

JUGGLING THE DREAM 

The teenager has found her home in the goal shooter and goal attack positions on the netball court and takes her inspiration from some of the league’s best shooters, including First Nations woman Donnell Wallam and Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler 

“Those two goal shooters are really good. They're so strong in the ring and can pick the ball from anywhere, you think they're not going to get it and then it's in their hand,” she said. 

Juggling Year 11 and netball is no easy task for Tully who attends a day boarding school on a netball scholarship. 

But the 12-hour days are worth it when she considers how much she loves the sport. 

“I feel that I love the sport enough to be able to do that and put that effort in because I train quite a lot and I spend a lot of time in that netball community but I also find a way to involve myself in school activities like tours and music, all those things that if you really love it, you're going to be able to find a way to do it and I've got a support network around me that makes it a lot easier to juggle those two things,” she said. 

While Tully has her sights set on studying nursing and paramedicine at university, she has an even bigger goal in mind. 

“I've always wanted to make the Diamonds, hopefully if I work hard enough, I'll make it to that,” she said. 

“But my goal every time I go on the court is to know I've given the best I can give even if I don't play as well as I want to, if I know that I tried my best and I did the best I could then I'm happy with that.”