Solway netballers turn on the style

FUTURE-PROOF: The Solway Primary School netball girls feeling excited about their new gear are Beau-Leah Karaitiana (left), 10, Olivia Goodin, 10, Sophie Cusack, 10, Ashton Thompson, 9, and Charlize Carson-Butler, 10.

Solway Primary School netballers had their team colours future-proofed after the ANZ Bank donated about $1000 worth of gear to the young players.

Teacher and team coach Hannah Gain said the grant had bought the Year 5 and 6 and Year 3 and 4 teams crisp new netball skirts that would replace the well-worn velcro-fastened versions that were "ripped and pleated and terrible" after about a decade of use.

A team had played with skirts of different colours during a competitive outing and the players were "definitely excited about stepping out on the court looking like a team this season".

She said the ANZ bank annually gave about $100,000 in sporting grants nationwide and Solway had unsuccessfully applied last year to have their netball kit refreshed.

The bank had generously supplied 20 skirts this time, five new netballs and an over-sized gear bag.

The school paid for another 10 skirts, she said, that together with their existing team bibs the two Solway teams would look sharp and stylish.

"The grant has future-proofed our teams, for sure."

The netball courts at the school also were undergoing an upgrade, she said, which also could only benefit the 30 players who would be first to wear the upgraded Solway Primary School netball strip.