Nina takes to the courts in Fiji

She travelled to the beautiful island nation of Fiji with the Wanderers Australia sporting tour, getting a chance to play netball, sight see and gain a greater understanding of the lifestyles of others.

Joining her on the tour was her mother Alex Glowrey, who said it was an education experience for everyone on the touring Aussie side.

“We played a tournament just after we got there, in Sigatoka, and it was an eye-opener that the Fijian girls were having to swap shoes to take the court,” she said.

“They didn't have drink bottles and would run to a tap between quarters to have a drink.

“They had old style bibs and some had to be tied.”

Wanderers Australia have been running annual sporting tours since 1997.

The tours give young Aussie kids a chance to experience the sports they are most passionate about in another country.

Netball, hockey, soccer and basketball are just a few of the sports that the touring company has programs for across a number of age groups.

Nina was playing in the touring under-13/14 netball team, representing Australia, which comprised 27 girls.

“Last year, after Nina played for Riverina in Port Macquarie for the PSSA netball carnival, she received a letter asking if she wanted to be a part of the tour.

“John (her dad) and I thought it would be a great opportunity for Nina to make new netball friends from around Australia and see what netball was like in a different country.”

The Aussie team played games against some of Fiji’s provincial teams, and the country’s junior representative team.

Visiting beautiful communities such as Nadi, Suva and the resorts of the Coral Coast giving the young girls a great opportunity for some travel experiences off the courts.

“Travelling to and from the netball games by bus, we got to see a lot of the country and how the Fijians lived,” Alex said.

“We also had days off from netball where we went by boat to an island and also went on a waterfall hike.”

While each tour is built around the sport of choice, Wanderers Australia’s mission if far greater than fostering a local of physical activity.

“The object of the tour is to meet new people from all over Australia within your team, meet new people in the countries that you visit, see the world, and of course improve as a player by receiving expert coaching and by playing against different styles of netball you cannot experience at home,” the company said.

Nina was able to forge some of those relationships with her Fijian counterparts by presenting them with gifts.

In doing so, she also got the chance to promote her local club.

“Nina took some Rovers singlets over and donated them,” Alex said.

“She also found out, since we have been back, an address where she can send some sporting things over.

“So now she is organising a donation drop.”

This tour is another notch on Nina’s belt of achievements as a netballer.

In 2024 she was named the Deni Rovers under-13s best player in the finals and the team's best and fairest.

The under-13s went through the entire season undefeated, and claimed the grade premiership. Nina was best on court on grand final day.

She was also included in the Picola District Football Netball League’s under-13s Representative Netball Squad.

Nina also played in the Deniliquin Netball Association’s autumn competition, and was runner-up best and fairest in the under-13s, and also had success on the basketball courts with the Deniliquin Junior Giants.

More information about Nina’s donation efforts are to be released soon.