A new era will dawn on Hepburn netball, with long-time senior coach Gary Cooke and netball coordinator Kristi Pedretti stepping down after nine years in charge.
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Cooke's decision comes after an illustrious career in charge of the Burras, including 12 grand final appearances coaching the A, B and C Grade and 17 and under.
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He won five premierships, two of those in A Grade, his most recent triumph in 2019.
He joined the club in 2009, leading the 17 and under team to a premiership.
Cooke was then appointed to coach the senior sides and led the A, B and C Grade sides from 2010-2015, before returning in 2018.
Pedretti joined him in 2010 as netball president, the pair a package deal throughout their tenure.
It's time to move on now and someone else can come in and give it a go and keep it running.
- Gary Cooke
Cooke told The Courier he felt the time was right to leave the role.
"It's just time, it's been a long time, the club's great, I've got lifelong friends there ... I think you just know after a while," he said.
"We've kind of achieved everything, we've had grand final wins, grand final losses, we've had league best-and-fairest winners ... the club's been set up really well, it's run really well.
"It filters down from the top, all of our grades from under 13's right through to seniors, they all play in finals every year, there's just a really nice atmosphere, it's a real family club."
Pedtretti said it's someone else's turn to lead the club.
"I just think for me it's time for me to move on and for somebody to come in and take the netball club to another level, to bring new blood into the club," she said.
"I'm also sort of at the stage in my own career where I want to start focusing on myself."
Hepburn looked poised to make a great run at potential back-to-back premierships this season, however, COVID-19 put a stop to that.
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