Marcia Ella-Duncan facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 1963 La Perouse, New South Wales |
||
| Netball career | |||
| Playing position(s): Centre | |||
| Years | National team(s) | Caps | |
| 1986-1987 | Australian Diamonds | 18 | |
Marcia Lynne Ella-Duncan (born in 1963) is a famous former Australian netball player. She made history as the first Indigenous netballer to play for the Australian Diamonds. The Australian Diamonds are the national netball team.
About Marcia Ella-Duncan
Marcia Ella-Duncan was born in 1963 in La Perouse. This is a suburb located in Sydney, Australia. She is a member of the Yuin nation, an Indigenous Australian people. Her parents moved to Sydney from the South Coast of New South Wales.
Marcia was one of twelve children in her family. Three of her brothers, Mark, Glenn, and Gary, were also famous athletes. They played for the Wallabies, Australia's national rugby union team. Marcia went to school in La Perouse and Matraville.
Marcia retired from playing netball at the age of 26. This was after she married rugby league player Phil Duncan. She also had her first child around this time. Marcia Ella-Duncan is a mother to two daughters.
After her netball career, Marcia Ella-Duncan became very involved in helping Indigenous Australian communities. She has worked on important issues. These include criminal justice, family and child well-being, and community development. She also helps with land management projects.
Marcia's Netball Journey
Marcia Ella-Duncan started playing netball at a young age. She represented New South Wales (NSW) when she was just eleven years old. Later, she was chosen for the NSW 16 Schoolgirls team. After that, she joined the NSW Under 21 teams.
Marcia first played as a goal defence player. However, she later moved to play in the centre position. In 1983, Marcia received a special netball scholarship. This scholarship was from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). She was the first Indigenous Australian to ever receive an AIS scholarship. She held this scholarship from 1983 to 1985.
Between 1984 and 1987, Marcia was a regular player for the NSW State Team. Her talent led her to the national team. On May 3, 1986, Marcia made history. She became the first Indigenous player to represent the Australian Diamonds. Her first game was against the Silver Ferns in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Marcia was a key member of the Australian Diamonds in 1986 and 1987. During this time, she helped the team win a silver medal. This was at the 1987 Netball World Cup. The tournament took place in Glasgow, Scotland. Overall, Marcia Ella-Duncan played for the Australian Diamonds 18 times.
Awards and Honors
Marcia Ella-Duncan has received many important awards for her contributions.
- 1988: She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This honor was given for her excellent service to netball.
- 2015: Marcia was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame. This recognizes her as one of the greatest netball players in Australia.
- She is also a member of the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame.
- A photographic portrait of Marcia is held by the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
