Dulcie Harvey has been involved in netball for over 30 years. 37448 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
By Michael Esposito
WERRIBEE Netball Association stalwart Dulcie Harvey is still coming to terms with the praise and adulation that has come her way.
Dulcie felt like she was merrily floating through air when she recently received a prestigious Netball Victoria award for long-time service to the sport.
“It still hasn’t sunk in, it’s surreal,” Dulcie said of receiving the State Distinction award at the V/Line State Titles dinner on 3 October.
The event had almost 400 guests, including Melbourne Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg.
“You don’t get involved in the sport and expect recognition, you do it because you love it,” she said.
“Netball has been a big, big part of my life.”
In fact, netball is so integral to Dulcie’s life that the only aspect of the awards night that didn’t take her fancy was the fact she couldn’t attend in her netball uniform.
“I was almost unrecognisable in casual clothes,” she said jokingly.
Dulcie, a former state league umpire, was honoured for more than 45 years involvement in netball, 42 of those with the Werribee Netball Association, of which she is president.
She has also been heavily involved in the Laverton association before it folded, Hoppers Crossing, and still trains umpires at Westgate.
Promoting, recruiting and training netball umpires takes up much of Dulcie’s time these days.
Seeing a trainee get her umpire’s badge gives her the biggest thrill, although she admits her role has its disheartening moments.
“Umpiring can make you a bit disillusioned at times. The game has become more violent and verbal, but that’s the way the world is going,” she said.
Dulcie is particularly fond of young umpire trainees who have been rejected by most as potential professional umpires, only to succeed under her tutelage.
The dedicated club servant continues to umpire and is the longest serving committee member of Werribee Netball Association.
She might even fill in for a game if a team is desperately short, but isn’t too keen on the stiff joints and aching muscles the next day.
