BRETT KOHLHAGEN: Looking from the outside, 2017 appeared to be wonderful season for you winning the Toni Wilson Medal for a second time. But it wasn’t like that was it?

EMILY BROWNE: The start of the 2017 season was a bit of a hard one losing my step mum (Tonia Oswald-Sealy) to motor neurone disease. She passed away on a Saturday which was the second game of the season. I called Paula Cary that morning and told her what had happened. Tonia would have hated if it I didn't go along and play that day but I needed Paula to make sure nobody asked me if I was OK because I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

BK: That must have been tough. How did you get through the season?

EB: For the first time, netball seemed like a bit of a chore at times. North Albury were amazing with it, they were there every step of the way for me. Playing netball probably helped me process things and gave me an outlet. You could forget about things for an hour.

BK: I imagine that was a factor in you joining Rutherglen last season?

EB: I just wanted to get away from things and deal with everything my own way. I found my way back a little bit. Spending more time with my Mum Trace (Way) was a big help too.

BK: I understand Tonia fought a brave fight

EB: She did. She was diagnosed in 2008 with a rare disease called Hirayama which was attacking the nerves in her left arm up to the elbow. It progressed from there and they changed the diagnosis to MND in 2011. She started on a blood treatment which happened to slow it down for a while which was nice. During the treatment she had my little sister Jess. Things started to go wrong with her left arm and then her left leg and before we knew it it pretty much took control. She did her best to stay at home for as long as possible with Dad and Jess.

BK: Did she love sport like you?

EB: She was more of a very adventurous woman than a sporty one. She climbed mountains and would go back-country snowboarding. I remember she was snowboarding for a few years after the arm diagnosis but then it became too much. Dad proposed to her on top of some mountain in Canada while they were cross skiing. He dropped the ring in the snow and she picked it up and it went from there.

BK: I guess that would have made seeing her deteriorate even harder?

EB: It's probably what hurt the most. She went from an adventurous and outgoing person to someone who was wheelchair-bound and unable to eat or talk. She had quite a slow progression until the last few years when it took over. She went into palliative care in January, 2017, and passed away on April 1, 2017.

BK: How much of a toll did it take on you?

EB: It was horrible and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I feel for Jess as I would have loved her to see Tonia climbing mountains and things like that.

BK: I take it you still have plenty of ups and downs?

EB: For sure. All it takes is a song on the radio or my little sister who has just started school and is in Year 1.  She waddles up to you with her hand on her hips and I think: ‘Oh my god, she has that much of Tonia in her’. Tonia was the first female permanent firefighter in NSW. Every time I see a firey the memories come back. You sit down and have a moment and then you try and move on again after feeling sorry for yourself which Ton would of hated us doing. So you just pick yourself up and get on with it. 

BK: I’m sure you can relate to the Neale Daniher story?

EB: It's amazing. I don't know how he hasn't been nominated for Australian of the Year. He has been faced with this death sentence and instead of sitting in the corner saying ‘poor me’ he's turned around and helped raise so much money and awareness to help people. He’s leaving a real legacy. It’s a bit late for us but it gives other families hope.

BK: Support for MND sufferers is growing isn’t it?

EB: A lot of people helped Dad as Tonia stayed at home for a long time. The Mercy Hospital staff were amazing, along with Inter Reach and MND NSW support. A home care group came around and helped and Albury Base Hospital staff didn't stop helping either.

BK: OK, it’s probably time for a deep breath so let’s get back to the netball. You must be proud to have won Toni Wilson medals for Lavington and North Albury in 2012 and 2017?

EB: It was a real honour winning the Toni Wilson Medal but you don't play for those personal accolades. I was very surprised. When I look back though the 2013 premiership was my biggest moment. We tried so hard because I know Sarah Senini was hanging out for one for ages and we really enjoyed it. We got tatts a few days later.

BK: Was one of the medals more special than the other?

EM: They were just different. The first one I cried like a little schoolgirl as I was 16 and wasn't used to the attention.The 2017 one I didn't cry but I was overwhelmed with the support as I wasn’t really even thinking about netball that year. The biggest difference was that I could drink on the night in 2017 and Mum and Dad were there and I could sit back and enjoy it a bit more.

BK: You have played against many of the Ovens and Murray's greatest mid-court players. Is there a standout?

EB: It has to be Yarrawonga's Kaitlyn Bourke (Cummins). When I first started playing A grade at Lavington and Aleisha Pendergast was coaching I would stress all week. All I would think about was Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn is coming up. ‘Gatty’ (Pendergast) would pull me aside and tell me to get my s--t together. It took me a couple of years to stop stressing about it. She was so hard at the ball and had a real presence. She was an amazing player. Even though there wasn't much of her, she was so tough and intimidating.

BK: On a less scary note, do any of your teammates stand out?

EB: It would have to be Sarah Senini. I grew up at Berrigan with her. She used to babysit me while Mum was playing netball and take me around the ground to try and stop me crying. I went to Lavi because of her and she really took me under her wing. She makes it so easy to play. Her ability to read the play and get the shots in is incredible. Sarah just makes everyone look good. Off the court she's a superstar too. She's never had a hidden agenda and is always up front. All the Seninis are like that.

BK: You would be rapt she made the O and M team of the past 25 years?

EB: Absolutely. She deserves it even though she doesn't like the personal accolades. She's fantastic.

BK: You had a brief playing stint in Melbourne as well. Tell us about that time in your life.

EB:  I did. Mum and I were travelling to Melbourne once or twice a week for two years for training and games and then I decided to stay and live there to give myself every chance. I went down for 12 months and played for West City Falcons. I was lucky enough to captain the under-19 side to a premiership and Victoria finished runner-up in the nationals that year. Tonia was starting to get worse at that stage though and I was homesick already so I decided to come back and spend more time with my family instead of chasing something that may never happen. It was a good choice.

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BK: How have you found the transition from the Ovens and Murray to the Tallangatta and District league?

EB: It seems like every Ovens and Murray player is out there at the moment (laughs). They are everywhere and the competition is really strong. I know we have a lot of talented young players at Rutherglen and it's the same at a lot of clubs.

BK: What are your plans for the future?

EB: I've re-signed for another year at Rutherglen. I'm enjoying it out there and plan on doing a bit of coaching with Mum again. Dad is on my back to come back to the Ovens and Murray so I might look at that in 2020.

BK: Getting back to MND, you have a pretty special match coming up don't you.

EB: I got a call this week from Beck O'Connell about playing in an MND charity match with the Danihers at the Albury Sportsground. I'll rock up that day and have a run around with the legends of the game. It's on March 23. Hopefully we can get a big crowd because it's for a really good cause.

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