While one of the most anticipated starts to a season in recent memory, round one of the Central Highlands Netball League (CHNL) season will hold extra significance for Clunes champion Christine Hill as she lines up for her 300th senior game.
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After making her debut for the A-grade side as a 17-year-old, Hill becomes the first netball player in the clubs' history to reach the 300 game mark.
She told The Courier it was an honour to play so many games for the club that the Hill family have been so heavily invested in for a long time.
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"Very big honour, I'll be the first person out at Clunes to do it for the netball, so pretty exciting," she said.
Hill was a member of Clunes drought breaking 2002 A-grade premiership and in an extraordinary coincidence, had a baby on grand final day when the side went back-to-back in 2003.
She was club president in 2016 and 2017, the first female club president in league history.
She follows in the footsteps of a long line of Hill's that have been key members of Clunes for a long time.
"Both of my grandpas were involved in the club, they were both president at some point in time. Then my Dad and my Mum both played for Clunes, my Dad's brother also played," she said.
"Then there's a whole heap of cousins my age that have all played for Clunes as well or been involved in the committee. Our president at the moment, he's my cousin.
"My sister, she's the secretary out there, so there's a big following."
Hill will take to the court alongside her sister Jaqui Featherson and niece Matilda Hill. Feathersone will line up in the goal circle alongside Hill, while Matilda will be in the offensive end as well, in wing attack.
She added that while her body allows her, she hopes to continue playing for a while yet.
"I'll keep going as long as the body holds out I think. I love playing netball, you just couldn't stop me from playing, so I think until the body says no I'll keep going," she said.
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