The VWFL 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner was a huge success with many guests wondering whether they had mistakenly walked into the logies rather than a footy function.
Players past and present, families and friends gathered together surrounded by female football history from the last 25 years and had quite a good time from all accounts.
The night began with founding members Helen Lambert and Gemma Griffiths enlightening the audience with tales from the 1980s. They then announced the team to go with it-
Team of the 1980s Andrea Dalgleish
Bernadette Marantelli
Kerri Piner
Siobhan Taylor
Lisa Hardeman
Maree Cave
Patty Kinnersley
Rhonda Rumler
Doreen De Pasquale
Sue Danaher
Tracey Winch
Donna Richey
Sam Hall
Mandy Whitelaw
Margaret Perez
Janine McCullum
Michelle Hand
Vicki Hand
Kerry Bond
Carol Thorpe
Jo Van Mourick
Kris Benefield
Nicole Mussett
Jane Searle
Sandy Cooper
Coaches: Jude Mortimer/Michaels & Bernie Marantelli
Colleen Vale, former VWFL President between 1991 and 1994, then spoke of her experiences during that period before announcing some infamous names in the team of the 1990s-
Team of the 1990s Anita Rhook
Belinda Bowey
Bronwyn Hutchinson
Chyloe Kurdas
Debbie Lee
Lisa Hellard
Meredith Flanner
Peta Searle
Rohenna Young
Yasmin Horsham
Melissa Beadles
Sharon Bonnici
Kim Bradley
Kerry Saunders
Monique Kelly
Narelle Saward
Kris Gardiner
Anna Brown
Kim Nielson
Belinda Miggiani
Marie Napoli
Melissa Morrison
Kellie Hume
Nic Lalor
Tammy Harrison
Coaches: Ben Robinson & Wayne Dooley
Debbie Lee, current VWFL President then arrived on stage and spoke about the VWFL's development, particularly over the last few years and what an exciting time lies ahead. So exciting in fact that Deb nearly left the stage forgetting what she went on there to do in the first place, which was to name the team of the 2000s-
Team of the 2000s Elizabeth Skinner
Kerryn Stephens
Meg Hutchins
Michelle Dench
Shannon McFerran
Moana Hope
Lucy Puls
Natalie Wood
Emma Lynch
Shelley Beggs
Tina MacCumber
Anna McIllroy
Bree White
Kate Jennings
Sarah Hammond
Jess Egan
Teresa McGannon
Rebecca Erwin
Cassandra Brookes
Kathy Zacharopoulis
Janine Milne
Roi Boutsikakis
Clea Smith
Jane Clifton
Sarah Fitzgerald
Coaches: Kerry Saunders & Lisa Hardeman
The main meal and more drinks were then enjoyed by the 215 guests and the tension was mounting as speculation about who might be selected in the Silver Jubilee team began.
Nicole Graves who has played more than 175 games of women's football, has won five VWFL Premierships, was made a VWFL life member in 2001, has been the team manager of the Victorian Senior State team since 1994, is the current President of the Darebin Women's Sports Club and is the Female Football Development Manager at Football Victoria was then given the honour of naming the Silver Jubilee team-
Silver Jubilee Team Backs: Peta SEARLE
Yasmin HORSHAM
Patty KINNERSLEY
H Backs: Andrea DALGLEISH
Rhonda RUMLER
Siobhan TAYLOR
Centres: Doreen DE PASQUALE
Lisa HARDEMAN
Michelle DENCH
H Forwards: Bronwyn HUTCHINSON
Anita RHOOK
Elizabeth SKINNER
Forwards: Meredith FLANNER
Rohenna YOUNG
Shannon McFERRAN
Followers: Lisa HELLARD
Debbie LEE
Bernadette MARANTELLI
Interchange: Belinda BOWEY
Chyloe KURDAS
Kerri PINER
Keryn STEPHENS
Maree CAVE
Meg HUTCHINS
Moana HOPE
CAPTAIN: Debbie Lee
VICE: Patty Kinnersley
DVC: Maree Cave
COACH: Bernie Marantelli
ASSISTANT COACH: Lisa Hardeman
The reminiscing continued on into the night with most leaving Moonee Valley shortly after midnight and heading to the VWFL official after party venue- RETRO.
Many were still there when the lights were turned on some time after 5am and wasn't that a sight.
The VWFL Executive would like to thank all those who came and made the night so enjoyable.
Last Modified on 04/01/2008 21:59