There was an unprecedented buzz at PCYC Orange on Tuesday.
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And it wasn't because Mayor Reg Kidd was on the court shooting goals in a suit, it was because the Suncorp Super Netball Giants are coming to town.
As part of a three-day stop at Orange, the Giants will host a pre-season match against Adelaide Thunderbirds on Saturday March 6 as up to 800 fans are expected to be present at the facility for the contest.
Not only will the match be open to the public, but so will a host of coaching clinics and meet and greet sessions, a couple of ways in which the Giants are hoping to give back to their fans in regional areas.
Netball NSW regional performance and pathways manager Mardi Aplin was stoked to reveal the plans, suggesting this is a 'huge' coup for the netball scene at Orange.
"This is fantastic," Aplin said.
"This is the first time the SSN has been out this way and what a great opportunity to have the Giants out here. I know Netball NSW and the Giants are thrilled to be coming to regional NSW."
The netball population at Orange is already immense but Aplin thinks things like this will only boost the number of players.
"It's unreal," she said.
"Our regional centre is huge... we have over 2000 members so playing a game like this out here will only increase the amount of people who want to play."
Annie Miller is an Orange product who's currently a training partner with the Giants and Aplin is confident she'll be present over the three-day stretch. However, she isn't sure exactly what she'll be up to.
"Annie is fantastic... she might be able to show her face here," she said.
"We'd love to see her at Orange."
While all parties are keen as mustard for the event, Cr Jason Hamling spoke about the importance of adhering to all the COVIDsafe guidelines that will be in place over that weekend.
"We will go with the rules and it will be a COVIDsafe event and I'm sure we will be able to fit everyone in and they will all have a great time and watch a super game of netball," he said. Tickets will soon be on sale for the fixture.
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