By Lauren Henry

An outpouring of love and sadness was evident in netball circles at the weekend as news of Zanaiya Bergen’s death filtered through the region.

The 23-year-old died following a crash near Navarre on Thursday night.

Emergency services were called after reports that a car had crashed into a tree on Stawell-Avoca Road at about 8.30pm.

Zanaiya, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, suffered life-threatening upper and lower body injuries, and was taken by air ambulance to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne where she later died.

She was due to play for Navarre in Saturday’s Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League A Grade netball grand final.

Her teammates mustered all their resilience and courage to take to the court in her honour and in an emotion-charged win, defeated Carisbrook 58-51.

Zanaiya was well-known in netball across the Wimmera, most recently playing in Rupanyup’s historic A Grade premiership team last year, where she was also Horsham District league’s leading goal-scorer.

Prior to that she played for Stawell, Dimboola and Taylors Lake.

Clubs and leagues joined together on the weekend to pay tribute to Zanaiya, including a minute’s silence following the Wimmera league A Grade preliminary final. 

Zanaiya’s mother Leona Grant said she had been overwhelmed by the love and support from people across the region.

“For me, I cannot express enough the overwhelming love, gratitude and support so many people, clubs, community groups and social media platforms that have expressed their own sincere and genuine sorrow, sense of loss and condolences for my beautiful girl of who to many was ‘Zee’, to me as mum, was ‘Gorgeous’,” she said.

Ms Grant said Zanaiya had a love of netball from a young age, and her father Jason Bergen knew she had something special when she was growing up in Horsham.

“Zanaiya loved the game, her teammates and always played with a fierce determination, motivating and encouraging her teammates throughout a game,” she said.

Ms Grant said Zanaiya’s off-court antics endeared her to teammates and colleagues.

“She could be loud, she would be different, she would be random – all of this along with Zanaiya’s dazzling smile, infectious laugh, her bold dancing and singing, her zany jokes and amazing sense of humour,” she said.

Ms Grant said Zanaiya’s passion, zest for life to make others happy, along with a desire deeply love her family and friends was priceless.

“All of these amazing and wonderful things, along with many others are what made my gorgeous girl – the beautiful, unapologetically, most unique version of herself that will never be forgotten and left a print on your heart even if it were just for a few seconds – my gorgeous girl had that amazing effect on people,” she said.

Ms Grant said the lives of herself and Zanaiya’s loved ones, including partner Ned, had ‘changed forever’.

“From all of my gorgeous girl’s family, her partner’s family and friends, I wish to extend my absolute gratitude, appreciation and love for all the wonderful tributes expressed for Zanaiya,” she said.

“She would be ever so touched, humbled and gracious for the overwhelming amount of love and support shown in her tragic passing.

“As Zanaiya’s best friend Jazz Warren said, she was ‘the gift of Zee’ and it’s very true. Share the gift of Zee – my gorgeous girl.”

Zanaiya’s workplace of the past five years, Eventide Homes Stawell, also posted a statement, saying ‘Zee had already made an extraordinary impact on the lives of so many people around her’.

“To our residents, Zee was so much more than a carer. She brought warmth, kindness, laughter and genuine connection to every interaction,” the statement read.

“She knew our residents, she noticed the little things, and she had a beautiful way of making people feel valued, safe and cared for.

“To her colleagues, Zee was the person you could rely on. She was loved not only for the wonderful carer she was, but for the beautiful person she was. 

“She welcomed new team members, shared her knowledge generously and was the person we trusted to teach others what it truly meant to care for our residents.

“Her kindness, patience and infectious smile became part of the fabric of Eventide.”

Dimboola coach Ant Toet said many of the Roos’ A Grade players who played in Saturday’s Wimmera league preliminary final had played with Zanaiya in her junior years at the club, where she played 15 and under and 17 and under, and won a premiership.

“ It was a pretty trying day for us and our club, and many at the club,” she said. 

“We had to acknowledge that Friday night when we got the news of Zanaiya’s death, but we then had to process that and we set two hours aside on Saturday to just focus on netball and concentrated on how lucky we were to be out there still, playing, and just backed each other.

“Zanaiya was just such a presence – she was full of life – so it’s definitely felt, and some of our girls were still close friends with her.

“Just the fact, it could’ve been anyone’s girl. It could’ve been one of our girls driving home – it’s so relatable ... so it hit people pretty hard and it still will have an effect on many.”

Rupanyup Football Netball Club remembered Zanaiya as a much-loved teammate, friend and one-of-a-kind personality.

“On the netball court, Zanaiya was the sharp-shooter every team would love to have. She was dominant in the goal ring, confident with the ball in hand and always willing to play her role for the team,” the statement read.

“She was a true team player, and her teammates loved taking the court alongside her. 

“But as talented as Zanaiya was on the court, it was the person she was away from it that made her so unforgettable.

“Zanaiya had a presence ... She could light up a room with her humour and was so often the life of the party.

“Above all, she was fiercely loyal to her friends. She loved her people deeply, and that love was returned by so many within our club and community.” 

Edenhope-Apsley A Grade coach Lavinia Fox paid tribute to Zanaiya – who she had played interleague netball in their junior years – following her side’s win in Horsham District league’s grand final on Saturday.

“This time last year, she was up here winning a grand final with Rupanyup,” she said.

“I think it just goes to show how this sport can really bring people together.
It’s a reminder to make the most of the time with your teammates and also against your opposition.”

Horsham Highway Patrol officers will investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, and have urged anyone who witnessed the crash, has CCTV or dashcam footage or anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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