With the HART Junior State Titles this weekend, Netball NSW is proud to recognise one of our sport’s most enduring contributors – Fran Dorey from the Hills District Netball Association, whose commitment to the State Titles has spanned more than four decades.
Fran Dorey’s journey with netball began almost by chance. In 1980, at just nine years old, she was introduced to what we now know as NetSetGO, playing in the under 9s.
“I remember being told I was ’out of play’ after a contact call so went and sat on the sidelines until they noticed I had disappeared!” Fran said.
From that tentative start with Normanhurst’s 9/2s, Fran’s natural athleticism and height quickly set her apart, turning a newcomer into a promising talent.
Her dedication propelled her through the ranks of representative netball. Fran played for Hills District in the 12s, 13s, 14s, and 15s, before she went on to represent NSW in the state juniors, earned selection for the Australian Schoolgirls and the Australian 17s squads, and even donned the green and gold in Australian Indoor netball.
Fran proudly identifies as an HDNA (Hills District Netball Association) “old girl,” but her influence and experience extend across several clubs, including Manly, Penrith, Bankstown, and Ku-Ring-Gai at State League 1 level - now known as the Netball NSW Premier League. Her first State League 1 game came at 19 for HDNA, and remarkably, she was still competing at Premier League level for Manly at age 40.
“So much changed during that time,not just the competition name! One of the biggest changes for me was going from being the tallest player on court to playing against girls over 6’3” and feeling ‘short.’ said Fran
Netball was more than a sport for Fran - it became a lifelong passion and community. When long-term injuries eventually stopped her playing, she turned to coaching, a role she was already familiar with from her teenage years.
“I started coaching at 15, and I also umpired because that’s what you had to do when you played reps back then,” she said.
“This early experience made the transition to coaching feel natural.”
Returning to her roots at Normanhurst and HDNA, alongside her daughter’s growing involvement, Fran found a new purpose on the sidelines. She took on coaching roles for club teams and junior reps, eager to pass on her wealth of knowledge.
“I love coaching juniors, they have so much to learn, and I believe it’s important for new players to develop the basics properly, but also to fall in love with netball and the thrill of higher-level competition.”
Fran’s story is not only one of personal achievement but of lasting relationships and her commitment to the sport.
Her longevity, spanning over three decades as a player and coach, reflects an unwavering passion for netball and its community. Fran embodies the spirit of the State Titles where dedication, skill, and camaraderie come together on the court, season after season.
