DStv Schools Netball: From Firefighting to umpiring

Officiating at various tournaments has provided netball umpire Nadia Jacobus-Julies a perfect opportunity to swap her firefighters bunker gear for the distinctive all white uniform to live out her passion to promote not only netball but sport in general.

Jacobus-Julies, who is a professional firefighter with the Mossel Bay Municipality’s rescue services for the past 14 years, was among several dedicated umpires who officiated during the Western Cape DStv Schools Netball Challenge powered by Bestmed finals in Bredasdorp in the Overberg region on Saturday.

The 45 year-old, is a born and bred resident of Herbertsdale a village 52 kilometres outside of Mossel Bay is proud of her heritage and proudly commutes daily from her home to perform her duties which ranges from putting out fires, attending to road accidents, going to a local school to do some educational training in the prevention of fires and sharing safety tips with the youth in the Greater Garden Route district.

“I live in my hometown which is 52 km outside of Mossel Bay where I’m part of a community of about 2000 residents. I believe it’s my duty to remain here and help uplift my community through my profession and commitment to all sports, not only netball. I want to be a role model for kids and to show you do not have to leave your town or village to prove yourself. I love my job and through my involvement Iwant to serve my community. We all try to make the lives of others a little bit better. My work makes it great to connect with all people across the divide and one quickly pick-up the needs and try to find solutions,” said Jacobus-Julies

The mother of a 17 -year-old rugby playing son says commuting daily between Herbertsdale and Mossel Bay comes naturally for a farm girl who biggest challenge on her route to perform duties could just sometimes only be interrupted by a herd of cattle crossing the farm road on her way to connect with the N2, rather than a traffic snarl-up in a busy city centre, she adds with laughter.

She says fitness is a major requirement of her job and has along with her colleagues competed in the annual Toughest FireFighter Alive National Competition, where last year they earned a bronze medal.

Jacobus -Julies believes the DStv Schools Netball Challenge has become an important vehicle not only for players but for umpires alike, wishing to earn their stripes in their quest to officiate in national and international tournaments.

“This was my second Western Cape DStv Schools Netball Challenge final. Next week I’m off to the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament in Gqeberha.

Apart from her umpiring prowess she’s also an astute coach having been in charge of the Eden u/19 team who won the B division gold medal at the 2019 national Championship.