# @netballaust on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CEGurmFpH9M
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/16697268-netballaust-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/da6e29ef51.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-08-20T08:54:24.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Netball Australia (@NetballAust) — https://gondola.cc/NetballAust

## Caption

“My adult netball life started out as a Saturday netball coach for my daughters’ team and progressed from club delegate to President of Grafton Netball Association, a position I held for 15 years. There was a time when we needed someone to look after the canteen, so I suggested my Scottish husband, Dennis do it for a few weeks. You know, just while they searched for someone more permanent. His time turned into 16 years. He loved every minute of it. It’s funny because he didn’t even know anything about netball until he married me and emigrated to Australia. He would always tell me who he thought should be in the representative teams and who I should select, and who’s good, and who’s not, and I said ‘yes Den, yes Den’. He was loved by everyone, even though I’m sure sometimes they couldn’t understand him. He would often say he was a 'thorn amongst the roses'. One of his main helpers was a sweet tooth and talented junior known back then as Verity Simmons, who would always help him bag the lollies. And of course, we now know her as veritycharles  who went on to become a star player, firstly with firebirdsqld  and then with westcoastfeverofficial. Dennis was her biggest fan, carrying around a signed player card in his wallet. But it was great, because people called us Mr and Mrs Netball, and it was something we did together. We’d come home and we’d discuss the day and he’d say who helped him in the canteen, and I’d talk about what went on out on court, so when he passed away I felt a real loss, and I stepped down from being president. I just felt it wasn’t the same after he died. I still help out with coaching and umpiring and stuff but, you know…I feel funny going into the canteen, because he’s not there, and I’m not arguing with him. Everyone’s doing a good job, so it’s not that. It’s just not the same without him, you know? My sisters used to say to me, ‘you and Dennis don’t go away together, you don’t do anything together’, but we did netball together. That was our thing. The Association placed a lovely picture of him outside on the wall of the canteen with the words ‘Dennis’ Kingdom’. I kiss it every Saturday.” - Cathy Walls. ❤️ #NetballNationStories #love

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 851
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- **Comments:** 9

## Tags

love, netballnationstories

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