The Fitzpatrick family have played a massive role in building our Club to what it is today. Adele’s father, Steve has been Club President and is a Life Member while her brothers, Sean and Matt are both Life Members and have combined for over 400 games.

Adele first started playing netball for Diggers Rest in 1990. At the end of 1994 season with clubs such as Gisborne and Sunbury moving to different leagues, the league decided that netball would no longer be viable moving forward. Adele would religiously follow up with Janine Ryan each year to see if netball would be included. This finally happened at the start of 2004. Adele managed to pull a team together for Diggers Rest within a week.

Janine Ryan was President of netball for the league and Adele was her Vice President. Along with Shannon O’Farrell, they worked hard to bring the competition to what we enjoy today.

Adele for many years ran the social functions for the club and would source sponsorship to keep netball running. She coached the B Grade Premiership team in 2006, she was also the captain of the B Grade Premiership side in 2007 and 2008 and unfortunately the 2009 losing side. She has been awarded best in finals, the Nicole Jury award, Life Membership and has also had the netball Players Player Award named after her. Adele is the very reason we enjoy the competition we have today.

Despite having said all of that, some of us still think her greatest achievement has been putting up with her husband for this long.

If possible, get over to the courts to support Adele and the rest of the C Grade girls.

Best of luck Adele!