Riddells Creek local Tilly Allen will be heading to New South Wales in September to represent School Sport Victoria in the School Sport Australia Championships.
The twelve-year-old Salesian College student will play with the under-12 Victorian state netball team, after participating in a structural trial process to be selected by Team Victoria.
“I’m really proud of myself and how far I’ve come in my netball,” Tilly said.
“It’s really cool, because I get to represent my school, and Riddell, so I’m really proud of myself.”
The championships give “gifted and talented” students the chance to participate in higher levels of sporting competition from students across the country.
The cost of a sports trip like this one can be hefty and participants have to self fund – the base rate is between $1500 to $2500, before added expenses – so any support or grants from the community would be welcomed by her family.
Tilly’s parents, Eliza and Michael, said they were “very proud” of her efforts to be selected.
“It got put up on the website and it was one night where my mum and my sister were out,” Tilly said.
“Then my dad just tells me that I got in, and I was like, no you’re joking, and then he showed me.”
When Star Weekly asked if netball was something she wanted to do for the rest of her life, Tilly said, “Yes, it is”.
Elsie Lange
