AN icon of the Quambatook Football Netball Club, Jan Free has been remembered as a “spirited, competitive and tough” player known by many on the netball court.
Jan died on June 7, aged 75.
The football/netball club led the tributes to the Kerang and District Netball League (later renamed Golden Rivers) life member.
“Jan was an icon,” the statement said.
“Having played all her junior and senior basketball and netball at Quamby, Jan was a spirited, competitive and tough player against the opposition.
“Jan was an avid umpire, earning her C Grade badge, umpiring for the club and for the league during the finals.
“Jan held the position of treasurer … and was a member of the general committee.”
Jan was the first person to be presented with a life membership to Quambatook Netball Club.
“When Jan stopped playing and umpiring, she still eagerly supported the club by scoring and helping out where needed,” the club tribute said.
“Right up until the final year of QFNC, Jan was known by all our netballers for her kindness and friendly manner, she also took a keen interest in the football.
“Yes, she did have her favourite players, and goodness help the opposition if one of our players got hurt.
“It is hard to believe that there would be a netballer that was in the KDNL or GRNL that didn’t know who Jan was.
“She certainly loved her Saturdays at the footy.”
Jan’s partner, Jim Wallis, played 39 games for St Kilda between 1963 and 1965. He died in May 2022, aged 80.
Jan presented Tobie Cameron with the Jim Wallis Medal on an emotional-charged day in August 2022, when the club officially dissolved after 111 years of participation in various leagues.
Jan’s funeral service was held at Quambatook Co-operating Parish on June 17.
Jan’s skill as an umpire was well known across the district, and her presence at court sides was something of a constant for generations of local netballers.
As one tribute put it this week: “There wouldn’t have been a netballer in the district who didn’t know who Jan Free was.”
