Our thoughts are with our cover star Irene van Dyk today after the death of her mother yesterday morning.
Irene’s mother, also called Irene, passed away in Meyerton, South Africa after a long battle with cancer.
Irene pays tribute to her mother in this week’s magazine, saying she was the reason the netball star packed up her life and moved to New Zealand in 2000.
“Originally, I was only supposed to be here for six months, but my mother came over for a holiday and she said ‘I can’t see you going back to South Africa,” Irene says.
“Once your mum tells you something feels right, you listen!”
Irene bravely played for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in last night’s ANZ Championship match against the Northern Mystics, and slotted the last goal to send the game into overtime.
The Magic went on to win by nine goals.
Irene will play in the grand final against the Melbourne Vixens in Melbourne on Sunday before flying on to South Africa on Monday.
For more, see this week’s New Zealand Woman’s Weekly.
