Helensburgh Netball Club has marked a remarkable milestone in 2025, celebrating 40 years of proudly representing its community in the Illawarra District Netball Association. What began in 1984 as a small group of passionate locals determined to create opportunities in the northern suburbs of Wollongong has grown into a club defined by unity, legacy and unwavering local spirit.
At the heart of this four-decade journey is Club Secretary, Judy Skiller—a name that has become part of the very fabric of Helensburgh Netball. As one of the Club’s founding members, Judy has held the role of Secretary every year since the Club’s inception. Her dedication has shaped not only the operations of the Club, but also the culture of connection and pride that continues to anchor it today.
Judy’s impact stretches far beyond the paperwork—she has played, continues to coach a team every season, and has championed generations of players through their netball pathways. Her family’s involvement is equally woven into the Club’s story: her two daughters have grown up in the sky-blue colours, with one playing every single year across the Club’s entire 40-year history. Today, the sisters proudly share the court together in a senior team, embodying the Club’s intergenerational legacy.
Helensburgh’s local spirit shines brightest in its sense of togetherness. As a small-town club, the committee has worked tirelessly to secure grants and build facilities that empower players of all ages. As a result, Helensburgh stands as one of the few clubs in the Illawarra to have its own clubhouse, lights and seating, and to operate its own Summer Netball Competition, which has run since 2000.
Across the decades, the courts have seen moments that define what unity truly means—mothers coaching daughters, family members playing side by side, and long-standing teams that stayed together for nearly 20 years, such as the senior team that competed from 1993 to 2012. This is a club strengthened by relationships and carried by the people who give their time, passion and heart.
Helensburgh also continues to make its mark on the representative pathway. The Club is celebrating three young athletes selected for the Illawarra Representative training squad, each striving for a position in the Representative Development team. Former players have also achieved significant milestones, including selection in the NSW U19 Indigenous Team and the South Coast Blaze.
As Helensburgh Netball Club reflects on four decades of success, it does so with gratitude—for the volunteers, the players, the families, and especially for leaders like Judy Skiller, whose unwavering commitment has helped build a lasting legacy.
With unity at its core, a rich history behind it and a vibrant local spirit leading the way, Helensburgh looks confidently toward its next chapter. Here’s to 40 years strong—and many more to come.
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