Queens of the court
They fostered great rivalries before they donned the same coloured bibs for South Australia. For the players and coaches of the successful 1979-1983 state netball teams, recognition in the SA Sport Hall of Fame is one of many highlights from their time on the court.
From 1979 to 1983, South Australia shone in what can only be described as a golden era of netball. The teams won five back-to-back All Australia Netball Tournament titles, which has earned them recognition in the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame.
While the journey to represent South Australia was different for most, there was a recurring theme when InDaily spoke to a selection of this year’s inductees.
For Bronwyn Roberts, Monica Lahm, Kay Partington, Dianne Eckert and Margaret Angove OAM – 40 years on – the memories that remain are those of the relationships built along the way.
Bronwyn Roberts
Bronwyn Roberts is the fourth and final member of her family’s netball dynasty, joining her mother and two aunties as representatives for Australia.
She also managed the Australian team and had more than a decade of playing experience with South Australia when she became coach of the 1979 team.
Stepping into the role, she was determined to do things her way.
“When I trained I found it quite boring, so one of my big things was to come up with different stuff, so it was interesting,” said Bronwyn.
“I also really did like telling everyone what to do. So obviously, coaching was my forte, wasn’t it?”
Marking the beginning of the state’s winning streak, Roberts said the driver of the team’s success was simple.
“It’s an attitude… we wanted to win,” she said.
Roberts stepped away from the coaching role following the 1980 season but remained connected to the team through friendships with Monica Lahm, Kay Partington and Vicki Krolikowski.
“It’s been a really true friendship and that’s what sport is all about,” she said.
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The 1979 state team. Image: SA Sport Hall of Fame
Monica Lahm
At eight years old Monica Lahm was told she would “never make it as a netballer”.
When InDaily asked if this experience fuelled her motivation, she replied with one word: “abso-fucking-lutely!”
Fast-forward a decade and she was selected to represent South Australia, going on to captain the winning 1980-1983 teams.
“South Australia probably didn’t play very traditional and when I say traditional, we were… it rhymes with grit. That’s what we had in us,” she said.
A highlight of her time on the court, Lahm recalled beating Victoria by 1 goal in 1979.
“Bronwyn came running onto the court and she’s about four foot nothing, and she lifts me up in the air,” she said.
Lahm went on to represent Australia alongside a number of her state teammates, one of those being, Kay Partington.
“To have my best mate go through club level, and then state level, and then Australian level, it’s unbelievable,” she said.
Kay Partington
Kay Partington was the Goal Keeper to Lahm’s Goal Defence, also appearing in the South Australian squad in 1979.
“We just knew what each other was doing… she would be making lots of brilliant interceptions and I’d be holding the fort together in the goal circle,” she said.
Before those days, Partington grew up in country South Australia and played netball for Meningie.
“We competed at Tailem Bend and around there, so most weeks the back of the car was full of kids and off we went,” she said.
Upon returning to Adelaide, Partington joined the United Church Association before playing for rivals Garville and Tango Netball Clubs.
“There were a lot of healthy rivalries within our own team, but once we were out there with our state uniform, it didn’t really matter what club you came from, because our mission was to play as well as we could and hopefully win for South Australia,” she said.
Reminiscing on her time in the state team, Partington said while it was great to win games, she believes she won in life.
“Having such great friendships and being there for each other for many, many years… I’m just really glad to be able to share it with everyone else,” she said.
Left: Dianne Eckert was a Goal Shooter for SA. Right: A newspaper clipping showing Bronwyn Roberts celebrating a win with Monica Lahm in 1979. Images: Dianne Eckert and Monica Lahm
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Dianne Eckert
Inspired by her older sister, Dianne Eckert’s passion for netball began at the tender age of seven, making her way to Garville Netball Club and then on to represent South Australia.
First unsuccessfully trialling in 1980, she came back better than ever, securing her spot in 1981.
Eckert’s place was in the goal circle and while managing her full-time job in administration, she shot 700 goals a day in her backyard.
“We had to have jobs…so I had to get up early, shoot 300, then have breakfast and I’d go to work and come home and I did 400,” she said.
“I wasn’t going to ever let them down, you just train so much harder just to be there,” she said.
While Eckert admitted to feeling intimidated by the likes of Lahm and Partington, she was determined to play her part.
“They intercepted the ball and it came down to the goal end. If I didn’t get that goal, the looks I would get,” she joked.
“I knew that I had these girls around me, they had my back. We get the ball at this end, you shoot at that end. So, that was our understanding.”
Eckert’s friendship with Lahm continued off the court, more recently starring in a television commercial for Lahm’s business.
“It’s just an amazing time in your life and you do reminisce, or particularly when you catch up with your friends from netball and the people you meet along the way,” she said.
The 1981 state team. Image: SA Sports Hall of Fame
Margaret Angove OAM
Margaret Angove OAM took over as coach in 1981, and with her came an extensive resume.
Starting in the sport as a child before moving into coaching at the United Church Association, upon the birth of her first child, she chose to take a step back.
That was until an unexpected phone call took her “across the road” to Contax Netball Club.
Taking her team from the bottom of the ladder to playing finals, when InDaily asked how she transitioned to coaching the successful state team, she only had props for her players.
“I was lucky, I had good players… I learned a lot from them,” she said.
“I’d always been a defence coach, so I had to learn about centre court and how to coach them. Even though I’d been coaching for ages, this was top level.”
Angove went on to be the inaugural coach of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, leading the team to two Commonwealth Bank Trophies in 1998 and 1999, also taking her knowledge overseas as the Australian Men’s coach.
In 1995, she received Order of Australia recognition for services to netball, followed by the title of Australian Female Team Coach of the Year in 2000, and in 2011 was selected as coach of Netball SA Team of the Century – to only name a few.
Despite this long and impressive list, she maintains the people were the highlights of her netball years.
“We still go to lunch… we still make it to the hotel that Saturday before Christmas to catch up. And nothing ever changes,” she said.
“That’s what netball can do. That’s what teams can do. You can’t win a netball game by yourself.
The latest inductees to the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame will be announced at a gala night at the Adelaide Oval on February 21.
Read InDaily throughout February as we reveal this year’s inductees.
The latest inductees to the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame will be announced at a gala night at the Adelaide Oval on February 21. Tickets are on sale now.
