FOR most country towns, the football-netball club is considered the hub of the community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s like that in Heathcote, where on Saturday the football-netball club will be the vehicle that brings the community back together in honour of one of their own who died a year ago.
Georgia Edsall-French was a much-loved member of the Heathcote community and football-netball club, whose death in a car crash in Queensland on July 24 last year rocked the town to the core, as well as Bendigo South East College, where she was a Year 9 student.
A year on from the tragedy Georgia will be honored on Saturday when the Saints host a memorial game against Huntly in round 16 of the Heathcote District Football-Netball League at Pigeon Park.
Saturday’s memorial event that has been driven by Dean Segafredo encapsulates all that’s great about being involved in a sporting club and the support they provide through the most challenging of times when win-loss records and what happens on the field all of a sudden pale into insignificance.
It’s often through the most difficult of circumstances when sporting clubs are at their best as they offer a shoulder to lean on and wrap their arms around those doing it tough – be it financial support through fundraising, emotional support in knowing they are not alone, and the little things like cooking meals for families.
As Heathcote president Andrew Conforti said this week: “When you’re part of the football-netball club, it’s like a big family.”
The Edsall-French name is synonymous with the Saints and Georgia was a rising netball star for the club.
On Saturday the Saints will swap their traditional black, white and red footy jumpers and netball uniforms to play in Georgia’s favourite color – purple.
Heathcote’s netball courts where Georgia spent many a Saturday will be decorated in purple, the fence around the football ground will be covered in purple ribbons and balloons and before the start of the senior game purple balloons will be released at 2pm.
It will be an emotional day at Heathcote, but an opportunity for the whole community – not just the football-netball club – to again do what it does best and that’s stick together in the face of adversity.
No doubt all three football teams and six netball sides will be playing with the competitive spirit that would do Georiga proud.
Luke West – sports reporter
