![We take a look back in the archives to see the junior sporting heroes of July 1989. Pictures by Illawarra Mercury We take a look back in the archives to see the junior sporting heroes of July 1989. Pictures by Illawarra Mercury](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/e5Qc2M5qQnfX3PTaVNk9Vy/cff8caf0-3c94-49f0-8c98-92f42e4e93d9.jpg/r0_8_1714_1063_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
We take a look at what was happening in junior sport in July 1989.
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Two of the Illawarra's netball stars were selected for the Australian under-17 side on July 20, 1989.
Tracey Evry and Jacqui McDonald found out they were chosen for the team after playing for NSW and winning the Australian title.
Jacqui, a St Josephs Albion Park High School student, had been playing netball for five years and was selected for the State Catholic side in 1988.
![Illawarra netball stars Tracey Evry, left, and Jacqui McDonald demonstrate the style which helped them to gain selection in the Australian U17 squad in 1989. Picture by Illawarra Mercury Illawarra netball stars Tracey Evry, left, and Jacqui McDonald demonstrate the style which helped them to gain selection in the Australian U17 squad in 1989. Picture by Illawarra Mercury](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/e5Qc2M5qQnfX3PTaVNk9Vy/20e43693-9c8f-49c1-b255-d69cb4ed049c.jpg/r0_0_4032_2267_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"Winning the Australian title was good, but being selected in the Australian team was even better," she said.
Tracey said the national championship was a great experience.
"All the other teams were pretty good; there was very even talent throughout," she said.
![Illawarra Hawks stars paid a visit to Cringila Primary School in July 1989 as part of a basketball clinic. Clockwise left to right, Rod Johnson, Slagana Lakicevic and Ben Morrissey, Steven Blazeski, Tai Nguyen, Marjan Koloski, Meissa Ibrahim Illawarra Hawks stars paid a visit to Cringila Primary School in July 1989 as part of a basketball clinic. Clockwise left to right, Rod Johnson, Slagana Lakicevic and Ben Morrissey, Steven Blazeski, Tai Nguyen, Marjan Koloski, Meissa Ibrahim](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/e5Qc2M5qQnfX3PTaVNk9Vy/127ec9df-c360-4241-b03c-e660ce9513c4.jpg/r0_0_4032_2267_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
In other junior sport news, in 1989, the Illawarra Hawks visited Cringila Primary School to provide basic basketball skills to students.
Rod Johnson and Ben Morrissey gave a brief lecture and a demonstration.
![Wollongong's Jake Spooner shows the style that saw him take out the World Scholastic Under 17 Championship in Bali. Picture by Illawarra Mercury Wollongong's Jake Spooner shows the style that saw him take out the World Scholastic Under 17 Championship in Bali. Picture by Illawarra Mercury](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/e5Qc2M5qQnfX3PTaVNk9Vy/4757386e-f951-4265-ab9c-f9b8b0ea2410.jpg/r0_0_2048_1151_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Chad Ryan and Jake Spooner became Wollongong's latest world champions after winning their divisions at the World Scholastic Surfing Championships in Bali.
Ryan and Spooner won the under-15 and under-17 championships defeating surfers from America, Australia, New Zealand and Bali.
Spooner said he was confident in the lead up to the competition.
"It's my biggest result so far," he said.
![Members of the under-15 Illawarra representative squad who were selected for the State Talent Squad in July 1989. From left, Monique O'Hara, Lynda Waddell and Nadine Lear. Picture by Illawarra Mercury Members of the under-15 Illawarra representative squad who were selected for the State Talent Squad in July 1989. From left, Monique O'Hara, Lynda Waddell and Nadine Lear. Picture by Illawarra Mercury](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/e5Qc2M5qQnfX3PTaVNk9Vy/914c97d4-145a-4efc-8fec-c1a9294b180b.jpg/r64_0_2026_1151_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Lynda Waddell, Nadine Lear and Monique O'Hara were selected to the NSW State Talent Squad for netball after representing the Illawarra in the State Age Championships.
The trio said they were surprised to be selected after their team came third in the age competition.
"I was surprised and really happy with my selection. I couldn't believe it. There were so much competition and I didn't know what my chances were like," Bulli High School student, Lynda said.
![Former Socceroos John Kosmina and Steve O'Connor explain the finer points of the game to school children at their skills clinic at Lesure Coast Indoor Cricket Centre. Picture by the Illawarra Mercury Former Socceroos John Kosmina and Steve O'Connor explain the finer points of the game to school children at their skills clinic at Lesure Coast Indoor Cricket Centre. Picture by the Illawarra Mercury](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/e5Qc2M5qQnfX3PTaVNk9Vy/8d65279a-db1c-4d8d-ac31-eb6f472cd8fb.jpg/r0_0_2048_1151_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Former Socceroos John Kosmina and Steve O'Connor were in Wollongong to give a skills clinic to young people.
The event at the Leisure Coast Indoor Cricket Centre was part of an initiative to improve the standard of soccer across Australia.
"In England, kids of 16 or 16 aspire to be professional, but in Australia they aspire to go to the beach," Kosmina said.
The Illawarra Mercury takes a look back in our archives every day of the week. If there's a story from the past we should revisit, let us know at news@illawarramercury.com.au