ABOUT THE CLUB

​Beetles is now one of the biggest clubs in the MDNA competition but it had very humble beginnings thanks to some wonderful women that loved netball.

 

Beetles started in 1972 as part of a Wynnum competition that was heavily influenced by basketball and had their own rules to the game. Caroline Adams started coaching a group of girls in the Wynnum competition and the team was called BEATLES. In a very short time, Caroline was coaching two teams. Her neighbour and friend, Jan also became involved with managing the teams. From this friendship, the two ladies developed Beetles Netball teams.

 

Audrey assisted Caroline and Jan to move to MDNA and the challenge began to learn the netball rules. MDNA was not the hard courts they are now, it was a tin shed in the middle of a field of grass courts. Audrey went on to be the Beetles patron until her passing in 2015.

 

Beetles changed the spelling of their name and around 1979-1980 with the move to MDNA and 4 teams of players. Beetles gained an exceptional achievement in 1980 with 4 girls from Caroline's team making the State U16's team. This is an unbelievable feat as, even today, it is fantastic to get 4 girls from the same association, let alone the same club or team. Caroline coached and Jan managed many teams both at a club and rep level.

 

The first year Beetles joined the MDNA competition they also won the U13's division.

 

Beetles had mostly junior players and the senior players came along later. The seniors became the next round of coaches as well. Club meetings were held at Caroline's house and the breakup party was in the backyard. Due to the limited ability of volunteers to coach, the club was capped at 12 teams which also kept it very personable.

 

Beetles life members have played and coached for the club at various times across the last 45 years. These dedicated ladies have started humbly by bringing their children to play netball and stayed to help everyone's children to play for Beetles.