Originally Published August 16 2022
IT was a day of mixed emotions as the final siren rang out in Quambatook on Saturday, calling time for Quambatook Football Netball Club.
“There are moments in our lives when we want things to stand still. [Saturday] was one of those moments,” a Facebook post on the club’s page said.
“Our beloved club held its last home game for not only the 2022 season, but forever.”
Club president Rhys Carmichael said the final home game was “crazy” and that he had never seen so many people at the oval, with more than four times the population of the Mallee town coming out to watch the Saints play their last game ever at their home ground.
“It was quite emotional for many realising that this will probably be the last time we are all together,” he said.
“I think it really started to sink in for quite a few people on Sunday.”
Quambatook Netball Club president Kellie Birmeister said there were quite a few tears shed on the netball courts as well.
“When that final whistle went, the waterworks started,” she said.
“I think for me, personally, it was a real mix of emotions – I was up and down all day to be honest.”
Ms Birmeister said there was also a sense of relief in the air, as the club has been struggling for a few years now to find players and volunteers to keep the club afloat. She also felt as a club, they handled the difficult situation as best as they could have hoped for.
“I said this on Saturday night, that Wakool never had the chance to have a proper goodbye, they just decided they weren’t going to go around again,” she said.
“We made the decision early in the year, so people have had an opportunity to come back and celebrate the club.
“I think that we can all be really proud of how we’ve handled this year.”
It wasn’t the last game for all of the Quambatook teams, with their B Grade netball and seniors football teams playing finals.
“It would be a fairy-tale to come away with a premiership at the end of the season,” Ms Birmeister said.
