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BEECHWORTH'S netballers are still in awe after Australian Diamond and Melbourne Vixen star Jo Weston hit the court with the Bushrangers last Sunday morning.
Weston, who has played 57 matches for Australia, hosted a clinic for junior and senior players at Baarmutha Park which involved multiple drills and skills and valuable teachings.
A grade Beechworth netball coach Bailey Lang said the defender from Corowa was inspiring to watch in action for the 80 netballers who attended.
"Jo is an amazing netballer and role model," she said.
"For the kids, it's something they'll remember for a long time, I would say she would have been quite influential in terms of prolonging their career in netball and might even push some of them to go as far as they can.
"We're all massive fans of the Vixens being a Victorian team so we were mostly 'fan girling'."
Netballers from Yackandandah, Wodonga, Chiltern and Wangaratta also made their way down to the clinic, which also involved a morning breakfast and a women's empowerment talk led by not–for–profit support organisation Sport and Life Training (SALT).
Lang said a strong representation at the clinic further highlighted the successful development of participation in young netballers at the club, which is still having an effect.
"We've actually just had a new member reach out to the club this morning and she wanted her 11 year–old daughter to join the club, which is quite nice," she said.
"What we've done over the last couple of years is we've had Net Set Go involved with the club in a more permanent fixture and what we've seen this year is our junior members have had really strong numbers.
"I think the hard work of the volunteers of the Net Set Go is now taking effect, so we're starting to get more juniors going through the grades which is what we've been aiming for."
As coach of both the A and B grade netball this year, Lang said pre–season has been reasonable in participation numbers and is looking forward to the Bushrangers pre–season camp to Mount Buffalo this weekend, where the football and netball club will be taking part.
"We've been trying to make an emphasis over the last two seasons about the community, having our family members there and kids with us really creates a family friendly environment," she said.
"And it's not just about those playing football or netball, but it's about the community who come to support us and watch us as well."





