Girgarre had lost only one of its 12 games for the season, finished second on the ladder and was set to launch a serious assault on the premiership when the season was cruelly halted by COVID-19 restrictions.
But there was some consolation for Butler at the Kyabram District League’s medal count last Friday night when she claimed the league’s top individual award, the Warren Medal, in a gripping finish.
In the final game played for the season Butler gained the three votes in the clash with Shepparton East to move to 23 votes and edge out Tallyaroopna star Claudia Callagher for the medal.
A modest Butler said she was surprised to become the first Girgarre netballer to win the award since Marg Turpin claimed it 40 years ago in 1981. That was the only medal won in the top tier of competition by a Girgarre netballer until Butler’s win.
‘‘I was lucky enough to win it but some of my teammates and some players from other clubs were also deserving of it,’’ Butler said.
Butler was in her first season with Girgarre after playing over 10 years with Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley League where she also made an impact.
‘‘My family lives near Girgarre and I’m really a Girgarre girl,’’ added the livewire centre and wing attack.
Butler’s win capped a successful count for district netballers.
Stanhope’s Maddy Steel claimed the Whitford Medal in the B-grade competition while clubmate Michaela Fisher won the C-grade McCormack Medal.
Rushworth’s Ebonie Kafia took out the Glover Medal in the 17-and-under grade while the Scoble Medal for the 15-and-under competition was shared by Rushworth’s Josh Francis and Avenel’s Tiffany Bourke.
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