SIBLING accomplishments are the order of the day in the Colley family household in Corlette, where talented sisters Maebel, Harlow and Eden juggle their studies with touch football, netball and athletics commitments.
All three are representative touch footballers with the Nelson Bay Neptunes.
Thirteen-year-old Maebel has enjoyed phenomenal success on the field in recent seasons with the rising middle twice gaining selection in NSW Touch Merit Teams.
Blessed with vision, speed and fleet footwork, Maebel was named in the Under 12s NSW Merit Team last season before duplicating the feat again this year when named in the Under 14s squad.
It was a proud honour for the Tomaree High School student, who was a key figure in the Hunter outfit that won this year’s NSW Combined High Schools Under 15 Girls Touch Football Championship at Salamander Bay.
A Hunter Western Hornets touch football representative for the past three seasons, Maebel was also a part of the powerful Hunter School Sports 4 x 100m Relay team crowned Hunter and Zone regional champions in both 2024 and 2025.
Competing in an age group above, she helped Hunter collect back-to-back bronze medals at the NSW Combined High Schools Athletics Championships – joining forces with talented Tomaree High sprinters Anna Taylor-Anderson, Mia McDonald and Fern Cullimore.
During the winter months, Maebel has excelled on the netball court and represented Nelson Bay at the State Junior Netball titles in Sydney.
Twelve-year-old Harlow’s list of touch football achievements are just as impressive, with the emerging middle reaching a milestone this year with selection in the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association Girls team.
Her elation soon turned to despair, however, when she suffered an appendicitis attack just a week out from the National Championships in Ballarat and was ruled out of the tournament.
Harlow still travelled to the championships with her family to support her NSW teammates, who finished runners-up to Queensland.
She managed to play 30 seconds in a pool match against the Northern Territory – scoring a try with her first touch of the ball.
The outstanding prospect earned a NSW cap after skilful performances in the Hunter Girls team that collected silver medals at the NSW Primary Schools Combined Championships in Dubbo.
It followed her selection in the NSW Under 12 Girls Merit Team after superb displays for the Hunter Western Hornets at the NSW Junior Regional Touch Football Championships in Mudgee earlier this year.
Harlow was named Player of the Series as the all conquering Hornets clinched the Under 12 Girls National Youth Championship title – a tremendous feat by the Nelson Bay junior product who was later honoured with a Hunter School Sport Blue Award.
She also demonstrated her netball prowess with the Nelson Bay Under 12s at the State Junior Netball titles in Sydney.
To cap off an eventful 2025, the rising centre led Tomaree Public School to the final of the Hunter Regional Netball Schools Cup tournament.
Both Maebel and Harlow put back into the game at a grassroots level by refereeing in the local Nelson Bay Touch Football Association.
Having two decorated elder sisters is a source of inspiration for 10-year-old Eden, who has carved her own niche on the netball courts and touch football arena.
A promising goal shooter and midcourt exponent, Eden was recently selected in the Maitland Netball Under 11 Development Squad for 2026, after helping her club side “Little Rippers” reach the Nelson Bay Association Junior Under 12s Grand Final.
Playing two years out of her age group has become second nature to Eden, who is following in the steps of her siblings as a talented link with the Nelson Bay Neptunes junior representative touch football sides.
Parents Lauren and Trent Colley told News Of The Area that they were proud of their daughters’ sporting achievements and work ethic.
“They thrive in a team environment and get satisfaction from helping their colleagues taste some success in whatever they do,” revealed Trent, the current principal of Belmont High School.
Sport is definitely in the genes of the Colley family.
Trent is a former top grade opening batsman with University of NSW in Sydney grade cricket and a NSW Country representative who helped the Blues win the 2012-13 National Country Cricket Championship trophy.
By Chris KARAS
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