In 2025, Netball WA recognizes and celebrates those involved in WA Senior/Open State Teams, the Perth Orioles, and West Coast Fever teams from the years ending in ‘5’.
In 1927, the All Australia Women’s Basket Ball Association (AAWBBA) was formed as the national sporting body for the sport of netball (formally known as women’s basket ball), with Western Australia joining as a foundation member alongside New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. Economic restrictions and the difficulties and expense of interstate travel meant that the Western Australian Women’s Basket Ball Association (WAWBBA), as the organisation was formerly known, meant that WA did not select a state team in 1935. Similar, no WA state team was selected in 1945, but this time due to ongoing difficulties caused by World War II.
And so, the first of our ‘5s’ teams came in 1955, when the national competition was held in Sydney, NSW. WA sent a Senior State team to compete in this All Australia Tournament consisting of 10 players and 3 officials. Team members were Fay Hardie (Captain), Pat Travers (Vice Captain), Cecily Mills, Joan Brearly, June O’Donnell, Myrna Hassall, Mary Markam, Evelyn Stewart, Valmay McCarthy, Mavis Gray, Beryl Jocey (Coach), Maude Matthews (Manager), Yvette Smith (Delegate). The Sun Insurance Company had been engaged to provide insurance for the Team to cover any losses incurred due to injury or ill health of players. WA played admirably and tied for third place with Victoria.
The 1965 national competition was held in Hobart, Tasmania. Basketballs for the 1965 All Australia Tournament were an 18-panel zig-zag style manufactured in Victoria. A donation of £7.0.0. from the father of WAWBBA executive member Penny Needham allowed the State Team the funds to purchase one of these balls to practice with. The WA State Open Team consisted of Annette Foley (Captain), Lyn Savage (Vice-Captain), Sue Flower, Kath Heagney, Elsma Harris, Yvonne Liddelow, Gail Rogers, Glenys Suiter, Gaye Switch, Ros Tarr, Kay Massey (Coach), Yvette Smith (Manager & Delegate), Yvonne Ayres (Umpire), Audrey Davis (Liaison).
WA’s play was reported on by team manageress Yvette Auckett (nee Smith):
In their first match on Monday, WA defeated by South Australia 38-31. Sue Flower injured her knee just after quarter time, and Gaye Switch received an ankle injury, both being unable to play day two. Elsma Harris collided with goal post. In their second match on Tuesday, WA defeated Tasmania 50-15. Elsma twisted her ankle but was declared fit to play again after physio. Kath Heagney, Lyn Savage and Annette Simper had blistered, calloused feet. The team played particularly well. They visited the Cadbury Factory in the afternoon.
At the third match on Wednesday, Victoria defeated WA 36-20. It was an exciting, high class and spectacular game to watch, the score not giving a true indication of play. Thursday was a free day with AA Selection Trials 9.30-10.30am, followed by a trip to Port Arthur. On Friday WA defeated Queensland 75-12. Elsma Harris received a severe knock on the head behind the ear and collapsed on court, went to doctor then hospital for x-rays. On Saturday 4 September, WA defeated NSW 27-23. The surface of the courts is thought to have contributed to player injuries; no State was free of injuries during the tournament.
In 1975 the national competition was held in Adelaide, South Australia in May, the competition having been bought forward due to the Fourth World Tournament being held in August. WA’s State Senior Team consisted of Gail Dorrington (Captain), Ricky Pyatt (Vice Captain), Sara Anderson, Maryanne Kuyer, Debra Hatch, Christine Miller, Jill McIntosh, Dianne Sidebottom, Cheryl Sidebottom, Christine Whittome, Bette Allison (Coach & Manager), Fay Hardie (Umpire), Shirley Doornbusch (Delegate), Yvette Smith (Liaison). TV stations were at Perth airport when the State players were leaving for Adelaide, their departure televised on the Channel 7 and 9 news.
Gail Dorrington, Cheryl Sidebottom and Maryanne Kuyer, along with umpire Fay Bevan and Manageress Yvette Auckett, were 5 Western Australians chosen to be part of the Australian team to compete in the Fourth World Tournament in Christchurch in New Zealand. While in New Zealand, WA were congratulated for both the standard set for WA and for the sport itself.
The 1985 WA State Open Team played in the national competition in Victoria, with Jill McIntosh taking on a dual role of Captain and Coach, alongside team members Jenny Goudas (Vice Captain), Kelly Bevan, Sharon Jarrott, Anne Lawson, Andrea Parker, Dianne Sidebottom, Sue Symonds, Lori Bevan, Christine Stanton, Kay Massey (Manager), Fay Hardie (Umpire), Sue Taylor (Delegate) and Colleen Ranger (Liaison).
1995 saw the national competition return to Victoria. The WA State Open team consisted of Waveney Seinor (Captain), Chelsey Mardon (Vice Captain), Kylie Chamberlain, Chrissie Farrell, Sue Gaudion, Terri Hadley, Ruth Hegney, Julie Neville, Phillipa O’Connell, Annette Paulsen, Kath Smart, Michelle Wilkins (Coach), Lee Hadley (Apprentice Coach) and Flo Starcevich (Manager). The team came in 6th place.
In 1997, the National Netball League (later known as the Commonwealth Bank Trophy) was launched and took over as the top competition for netball in Australia.
Back Row (L-R): Emma Beckett, Kodie Blay, Helen Arividis, Tracey Pemberton. Middle Row (L-R): Jessica Shynn, Nikala Smith, Kate Lazenby, Janelle Lawson, Melissa Johnston, Kym Mitchell, Sam Lee. Front Row (L-R): Anna Vidler, Stacey Rosman, Catherine Devitt, Larissa Wilcox.
In 2005, WA’s representative team, the Perth Orioles, consisted of Jessica Shynn, Christine Waller, Tracey Pemberton, Kym Mitchell, Catherine Devitt, Sam Andrews, Stacey Rosman, Larrissa Willcox, Nikala Smith, Melissa Johnston, Kodie Blay, Helen Aravidis, Kate Lazenby, Emma Becket, Janelle Lawson, Caitlin Bassett, Carol Byers (Coach) and Donna Monteath (Manager). The Perth Orioles finished sixth on the ladder for 2005, having forced many of the teams that finished above them to play their best netball to ensure a win, gaining much respect for the way they played throughout the season.
In 2008, the West Coast Fever was introduced as the ‘new look’ team for WA in the newly revamped ANZ Competition.
The 2015 West Coast Fever team consisted of Caitlin Bassett (GS), Kate Beveridge (GS/GA), Shae Bolton (C/WA/WD), Ashleigh Brazill (Captain, C/WD), Courtney Bruce (GD/GK), Ingrid Colyer (C/WA), Josie Janz (GD/GK), April Letton (GD/GK), Natalie Medhurst (GA/GS), Erena Mikaere (GK/GD), Kaylia Stanton (GS/GA), Khao Watts WA/C/WD), Stacey Rosman (Head Coach), Tracey Robinson (Assistant Coach) and Suzanne Lennon (Team Operations Manager).
Under Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich (nee Rosman), West Coast Fever’s outstanding 2015 season included winning 9 games in the season, going through the preseason tournament undefeated and reaching their first finals series in the club’s history. In a series of firsts, every Australian team was either beaten or drawn with, Fever won all away games in New Zealand and it was also the first time Fever had a player represented in the ANZ All stars team. They achieved a West Australian record netball attendance of more than 12,000 screaming fans at the Perth Arena.