By Henry Milic
After 28 years in the sport, Myponga Netball Club’s Deb Halse has reached a milestone very few have achieved, notching up an incredible 650 netball games for her club.
Having coached and played in winning premiership teams over her netball career, Halse has achieved everything the sport has to offer.
Reaching game 650 was a milestone match she will never forget.
“My 650th game was made even more special because, I got to play it with two of my teammates who were also hitting 150 and 100 games and they are both ex-students of mine,” Halse said.
“Myponga have made each of my milestones feel special. My first one was when I hit 300 and that was a real surprise.
“When I hit my 600th game the Myponga Netball Club actually named Court 1 after me, so it is now called Deb Halse Court 1.”
Deb celebrating her milestone with former students Rikki and Amy.Halse’s connection the Myponga Netball Club runs deep through generations, with her great, great, great grandfather providing funding for the netball and football club to be built.
She first started playing for Myponga when she was just ten years old, living on a dairy farm with her four siblings.
As one of the pioneers of the game, Halse began by playing basketball but soon migrated over to netball when Myponga introduced the sport in 1968.
“I think there was a pretty high expectation that young children played sport and for girls it was going to be netball in winter and for boys it was going to be footy,” Halse said.
“I went on to play all of my juniors for Myponga but in 1978 I was posted to Naracoorte High School in my first teaching role.”
“I was then posted to Willunga High School in the late eighties, where I was approached by the president of the Willunga Netball Club to go over and coach their A-grade team.”
At 39 years old, Halse returned to Myponga and went on to play for the club for another 28 years.
She dedicated her working life as a school teacher where she taught food and nutrition, a practice that she credits for her longevity in the sport.
Now she hopes to inspire the next generation of boys and girls to pursue sport as she believes it sets people up in the long run.
“I’m a fan of young people playing any sport,” Halse said.
“It is such a great place to meet young friends who are like minded and team orientated.”
“It makes a well-rounded young person who is going to be ready for the workforce.
