Netballer keeping her mum’s memory alive

By Stephanie Smarrelli 

For Alkira Clark-Kickett netball is more than just sport, it’s one of the ways she keeps her mother’s memory alive. 

Alkira was three years old when her mother Georgina (Gina) tragically passed away unexpectedly. The death shocking her family and the Ballarat community. The doctors weren’t sure what caused the death of the 27-year-old but believed it to be an undiagnosed blood clot. 

Alkira's grandmother Belinda Hayden lost her daughter who she shared a passion for netball with and when Alkira was old enough to start playing, she encouraged her to pick up the sport. 

"I started in the Victorian Junior Football and Netball state carnivals when I was about 10 and used to represent Ballarat while I lived there,” she said.  

“Nan was a huge influence pushing me into those and I gained an interest towards netball pretty quickly.”  

The teenager has since built a special bond with her grandmother, the duo determined to keep the memory of Gina alive. 

“She’s always been a big part of pushing me into playing netball, going to talent academies and different tournaments,” Alkira said.  

“A cool memory I have is playing alongside Nan for the first time in a carnival together, it was pretty special because we always put in a team under Mum’s name.”  

What started as one team has continued to grow with Gina’s Dream Team now represented in A, B, C and D Grade levels of competition. 

And at 60-year-old, Belinda still plays alongside Alkira in the team, reflecting on the memory of her daughter every time she takes to the court. 

"We keep her memory alive every day, through Gina's Dream Team,” Alkira said. 

“I started playing in 2018, it’s good to get all our friends and family around netball to share her story.”  

Alkira is proud of her First Nations’ heritage associating with the Njaki-Njaki, Wilman, Kirrae Whurrung  and Djab Wurrung lands. 

The 18-year-old is excited to be part of the pilot First Nations Tournament this month to compete against First Nations athletes from other states and territories. 

“I’m excited because there’s the Budgies National Indigenous Netball Carnival but that has only been for the under 12s to 18s and it’s been influential for younger girls wanting to step up and play at a state level,” she said. 

“Hearing there was a competition for Under 23s for First Nations athletes made me very excited, I’m looking forward to getting out there against the other states and to see all of us come together playing high level netball.” 

Reflecting on making the team, Alkira admits she was nervous she wouldn’t be selected because she didn’t go to the trial. 

“I couldn't make it to the trial, so I was pretty nervous leading up to the team announcement,” she said. 

“I got picked through being seen in the talent academies. I was very happy to make the team. 

“I’ve played with a couple of girls in the team in the past, we have a pretty good bond together so I’m excited to get out there and play.” 

The tournament is extra special for Alkira because of the First Nations representation. 

“It means a lot because all the girls are coming from different mobs from across Australia,” she said. 

“It's nice to be there as a representative for my mob and the other girls are representatives for their mobs. It’s nice to hold that title in the team and to reflect on all the mobs from around the country.”  

Alkira is following in her mother’s footsteps, going through the state netball pathways with the goal of taking her netball as far as she can.  

“Mum grew up in WA and went through similar processes to what I’ve been through in state netball, it's been good to reflect her journey a bit as I've grown up,” she said.  

While she enjoys being on the court, Alkira is also passionate about inspiring the next generation of netballers. 

“I enjoy coaching young First Nations kids and being someone they can look up to who has gone through the pathways,” she said.  

“I love that they can look up to me because when I was 12 and 13, I would always look up to the older girls, I love to give back and be part of the cycle.” 

Having been inspired by other family members, Alkira hopes she can do the same for her younger cousins. 

“I want to continue playing consistently and to continue to give back to the netball community,” she said. 

“I have a lot of younger cousins who are likely to be interested in playing netball when they grow older, I want to lead the way for them as my family did for me.”  

One of the netballers Alkira looks up to is Origin Australian Diamond Donnell Wallam. 

“Donnell is a big one, we’re both shooters and she’s from the same Noongar country I am through my mother,” she said. 

“We’ve got a lot of similarities, I’ve always looked up to her, following how she’s played and all the steps she’s taken.” 

Alkira’s biggest sporting idol though she doesn’t have to look far for, it’s her cousin Jamarra Ugle-Hagan who plays for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL. 

“His career continues to be such an inspiring story, he has given so many of my younger cousins, brothers and sisters a glimpse of what opportunities are out there,” she said. 

“My younger brother is following a similar pathway to Jamarra and it’s good to have someone to look up to at a high sporting level, especially a cousin who is doing it on the big stage but started where we are.” 

For the non-avid sports fan Ugle-Hagan's name may sound familiar to you after the youngster lifted his guernsey and proudly pointed to his skin after kicking a goal in 2023.  

A powerful stance in the face of racism echoing the gesture of former AFL player Nicky Winmar 30 years earlier. 

Alkira touched on how special the moment was for her and her family. 

“I felt emotional as did my family,” she said. 

“It’s such a big power moment for the Indigenous community, him bringing that gesture back, it’s influenced a new generation who may not have known about the Nicky Winmar moment.” 

Alkira hopes she can be just as inspirational as her cousin is to First Nations netballers throughout the country. 

“It’s important to teach the younger generation they hold the same power to continue to inspire and lead,” she said. 

“I want to inspire and lead through my netball journey.”