A trio of winners

Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman were two winners at the Mission Queensland Firebirds Celebration Dinner

THE trio of winners from Friday nights Mission Queensland Firebirds Celebration Dinner all hail from Queensland and epitomise what it means to be a Mission Queensland Firebird.

While every member of the Mission Queensland Firebirds stands out and works extremely well with their team mates, Laura Geitz, Clare McMeniman and Keirra Trompf are the stars of 2010, the players who have stood out from the pack.

Geitz was awarded the prestigious Mission Queensland Player of the Year Award, chosen by the coaching staff for her outstanding contribution to the team during 2010.

Geitz said she was surprised when she was announced as the Player of the Year.

“I was extremely honoured to get the award and I think it topped off a great year,” Geitz said.

“I really enjoyed the 2010 season with all the new girls that came to play with us this year and having Roselee coming in as head coach.

“It’s fantastic to have such a great team on board.”

Meanwhile for the third year running Clare McMeniman was awarded the Mission Queensland Firebirds Player’s Player, voted by her peers during the season as the best player.

McMeniman said she felt extremely lucky to get the award three years in a row as well as feeling privileged and honoured.

“To be valued so highly by my team mates is a wonderful feeling and a huge part of why I play netball – because of my team,” McMeniman said.

“I am so lucky to be able to play with a group of talented, skillful and lovely girls who are my closest friends and to be considered as deserving of this award by them is incredibly humbling.”

Keirra Trompf is another player who has already won her award previously. Trompf took out the Mission Queensland Firebirds Spirit Award in 2010 and she previously won the award in 2008.

 “It’s an honour to be chosen amongst such a fantastic group of girls to represent Queensland and the Firebirds is a privilege and something I am very passionate about,” Trompf said.

“I think team spirit is an important part of any successful team, every team member delivers it their own way, whether it’s taking the match winning intercept, doing the hard yards at training or sitting on the sidelines screaming your heart out.”

Throughout the season, each of the three girls have particular games that stand out for them as a highlight.

For Geitz it was beating all of the New Zealand teams, especially the thrashing of the Tactix.

“But walking away with a win against all those teams, especially playing in New Zealand which can be pretty daunting in front of those crowds; I think it was a huge positive for us all to take away,” Geitz said.

The Vixens game which marked the beginning of the end for the Melbourne team was a stand out for both McMeniman and Trompf, but another game that stands out for McMeniman is her 50th game with the Mission Queensland Firebirds.

“Growing up in Queensland, I had always wanted to play for the Firebirds and to have played 50 games representing my state makes me extremely proud,” McMeniman said.

“Getting my first start for a few seasons against Vixens and winning that match at home in front of fabulous fans at the Convention Centre,” Trompf said of her favourite memory of the season.

“As a team it was the win against Magic in Rotorua, we had to rise above a lot of obstacles that match with Sarah going down, the loud Magic crowd and our finals hopes on the line, but we were able to come away with the win.”

Other Mission Queensland Firebirds recognised at the Celebration Dinner for reaching significant milestones included Natalie Medhurst (100 CBT and ANZ Championship caps), Lauren Nourse (100 CBT and ANZ Championship caps), Clare McMeniman (50 Firebirds caps), Jacqui Russell (Firebirds Debut) and Laura Scherian (Firebirds Debut).

To see all the pictures from the evening visit the Firebirds Photo Gallery.