The netball tournament changing lives

By Linda Pearce 

It takes the Mills twins, Bernie and Eliza, at least four hours to get to training in Sydney from their home in Orange, yet the opportunity to represent NSW in the annual Marie Little Shield competition is one neither wants to miss. 

Except this year, when it will be by necessity, given Bernie is close to 28 weeks pregnant with her third child, meaning goaler Eliza will take over the state captaincy in her sister’s absence. 

“They leave at the crack of dawn and send me a pin to show me where they are,’’ says long-time NSW coach Therri Ellison of the monster commute from the central tablelands for the 10 fortnightly sessions scheduled in preparation for the carnival which will be held in Brisbane this year. 

“They do kind of come as a package deal, so even though Bernie’s been unable to train for a while, she still comes down and does the warm-up and brings her two daughters , and Eliza’s got her little one who’s just turned one. 

“All the girls have a special place in my heart, but these two have overcome a lot of difficulties at home and at school, and to watch them come out the other side … I just have a really soft spot for both of them.’’ 

The 33-year-old former basketballers have for a decade been mainstays of the NSW team that last year regained the shield from fellow powerhouse Victoria at the all-abilities, all-female championships, first held in 2013. 

Marie Little Shield involvement is life-altering for some, confidence-building for so many.  

Bernie Mills says she was told by a teacher in year six that she was “a waste of oxygen and I would never achieve anything in my life” - only to go on and lead her state while studying and gaining employment as a social worker.  

As to what else netball has given the 33-year-old: “It’s more understanding who I am, and feeling important, in some funny, weird-arse way.’’ 

Named after the late Marie Little OAM, who dedicated her life to assisting and advocating for those with an intellectual disability, Tasmania’s inclusion in 2024 edition meant all eight states and territories entered teams for the first time. 

Inclusion, in the broader sense, is the essence of the Marie Little Shield, which champions diversity and equality, showcases the power of sport as a change agent, and breaks down barriers to participation while building social and life skills, self-esteem and a sense of belonging, community and connection. 

“We’ve had girls that have come as training partners, and been very shy; their netball ability’s at a certain level but it’s (about) their ability to communicate and interact with the others, and the more that they’re involved with the program the more confident they become,’’ Ellison says. 

“It’s a wonderful initiative and it’s growing.  

“The fact that we’ve got Tassie as our newest team and the competition’s building in terms of having a team from every state is really important as well.’’ 

Queensland, having retained hosting duties, will enter with the more modest ambition of toppling mid-table rival Western Australia, as coach Merrin McCulloch marks 10 years in charge of what has morphed into the state’s youngest-ever MLS team. 

It includes teenager Olivia Page, appointed to a vice-captaincy role in her fourth MLS appearance, while also an aspiring coach who dreams of one day becoming a Queensland Firebird and sharing a court with her idols in purple, too. 

“When I was younger, I could never play sports because of my epilepsy and I couldn’t go out into the sun, but when I was about 16 I found out about the Gems and I wanted to start playing a sport,’’ says Page, a versatile midcourter. 

“I feel amazing. I feel so lucky to be representing my state team. It makes me feel stronger in my home life and stronger in my work life, as well.’’ 

Coach McCulloch recalls a speech at a Hidden Gems Academy Christmas gathering in which Page spoke of the friendships developed by her and twin sister Lorelei - or Liv and Lol, as they’re fondly known within the team. 

The 19-year-old’s words reduced others in the room to tears. 

The happy kind. 

“It’s so much more than just being a netball competition, because the people that are there, nearly all of them were born with a disability, so they’ve battled through things their entire life, and some of them have been excluded from sport, some of them have even been excluded from school,,’’ McCulloch says. 

“And a lot of people underestimate how important it is for these guys to represent their state. They work as hard as any of the state teams I’ve been with, and you don’t see the same sort of changes in them that you do in the elite state athletes, but I still see such a change. 

“Not just in their fitness and their skills but in their communication, their independence, their community, and their pride about not just representing their state but about representing disability.’’ 

A bonus is the chance to meet Suncorp Super Netball stars, including Origin Australian Diamonds, as the Gems so thrillingly did when sharing a table with Liz Watson and Kate Moloney at the official breakfast before the 2023 MLS in Melbourne. 

“The girls had all the photos under the sun; it was just perfect. They haven’t stopped talking about it. They loved it,’’ McCulloch recalls. 

“The fact they (the elite players) give up their time and the girls get to see them is one thing, but most of them don’t just show up; they actually come and get involved with the girls and talk to them like peer athletes, which is really cool.’’  

Meanwhile, Victorian veteran Jessika Weinberg is back in navy for the first time since 2017, the Werribee mother-of-five and former schoolmate of returning Vixens’ defender and new mum Emily Mannix having noted the rise in standard since her 2013 debut. 

“It is very different now. There’s a lot more drills, more full-on drills, a lot more competitive stuff with the other participants as well - get in there or go home,’’ says Weinberg, 33. 

“It has brought me back out of my comfort zone, making friends.

“It feels like you are a part of something now, that you’ve achieved something that you really want to do. It gives me more confidence, the ability to play again, and keeps me fit.’’ 

Round-robin action takes place on Friday and Saturday, with medal and play-off games on Sunday involving all eight teams. Entry is free to Nissan Arena, as Liv Page laughs that she has “probably invited thousands of people. I’m very excited’’. 

“We bring our own community,’’ adds McCulloch.  

“As I said to all the parents last year, we used to call ourselves the Gems family, we’re now a Gems community or a Gems village, because we’re just building and growing and the support we had last year was terrific.” 

Bernie Mills had thought of heading north as a supporter, having not missed an MLS since her debut with baby Noela in tow 12 years ago; even managing to play in 2016 when second daughter Eliana was barely 10 weeks old. 

“It’s a heartbreaker,'' she says. 

"Like, I don’t know how to sit on the sideline and watch the girls play, but in my head it’s a great opportunity for someone else to step into the team. Feel a little bit proud that my sister made captain, so it is a bit easier, because she deserves it. 

“But I’m sure everyone will see me next year. 

“I’ll be back.’’ 

Like so many, for whom the Marie Little Shield experience means so much.