Laura von Bertouch

Laura von Bertouch
Personal information
Born	9 December 1981 Adelaide, Australia
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 5 ^1⁄2 in)
Occupation	Occupational therapist
Relatives	Natalie von Bertouch (sister)
Netball career
Playing position(s): C, WA
Medal record Representing  Australia Netball World Championships 2007 Auckland Netball
Last updated: 2009-03-29

Laura von Bertouch (born 4 December 1980 in Adelaide, Australia) is an Australian netball player. Von Bertouch was a member of the Australian national netball team in 2006–07, and is a current member of the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the ANZ Championships.

Netball career

Von Bertouch is a mid-court player and plays either centre or wing-attack. At 167 centimetres (66 in) tall,^[1] she is not as tall as most other netballers but is certainly, along with her sister, Natalie von Bertouch, one of the quickest players in the game. Her speed and agility around the court are her greatest strengths along with her determination and strong combination with her sister.

Laura von Bertouch has been in the Australian national netball squad, on and off (as a result of sustaining playing injuries), since 2003 and made her international debut for Australia against New Zealand in July 2006. After a nervous start for the Australian team, Laura has risen to become a reliable wing attack for her country. Her most memorable moment in netball is reportedly winning the ETSA Contax premiership in 2005. She was also an important contributor in Australia's win against New Zealand in the trans-Tasman Test series in October 2006.^[2]

She was also a member of the Australian team that won gold at the 2007 Netball World Championships. On 21 November 2007, she announced her retirement from all forms of the game, due to being "burnt out" and to concentrate on her career as an occupational therapist.^[3] However, von Bertouch was signed to play in the ANZ Championship with the Thunderbirds in 2009.^[4][5]

Family

Laura von Bertouch is the older sister of Natalie von Bertouch, who also plays for Australia and the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Laura's father is Terry von Bertouch, a former Australian rules football player in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), whom she describes as the most influential person in her netball career.

References

1. 2006 Adelaide Thunderbirds team profile at ABC Sport. Retrieved on 2009-03-29.
2. 2007 Netball Australia profile. Retrieved on 2009-03-29.
3. AAP (2007-11-21). "Von Bertouch burnt out at 26". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
4. Partland, Warren (2008-09-29). "Laura von Bertouch back on board". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
5. 2009 Adelaide Thunderbirds player list. Retrieved on 2009-03-29.