Cathryn Rich kindly updated knowitall.ch on the news from her Netball Club and let us know about the upcoming summer events. To get to know her involvement with Netball, she has shared these responses to our questions.
How did you get involved in Netball?
I am a PE teacher from Bath, UK - where I lead the Sports department at the Royal High School with a strong tradition in the game, I also played and coached at the Team Bath Club which is a large and successful club both in terms of participation numbers and in developing performance of elite players. I am a UKCC Level 2 coach and a Netball Europe B Award Umpire. I am the founding President of Swiss Netball and was Operations lead from 2009 - 2016 which brought about rapid progress in terms of participation in netball and saw our National teams achieve their greatest successes on the European stage thus far.
What is your involvement with Netball Pass Meinier?
I founded the Netball Club of Meinier in 2011 which now comprises around 100 members and is run by a committee of all female volunteers and where we are proud to encourage young women to play the game of netball but also provide opportunities to coach and umpire the game. Essentially we are an all female club made up of 60% plus Swiss members now but with an approach that integrates the local and the expat community through this team sport.
Netball Pass is the arm of netball specifically set up to run camps and extra activities for netball, we offer discounts for Meinier members but all netballers or 'wannabe netballers' are welcome to join these activities.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome while setting up or teaching here?
The greatest difficulty in developing the sport has been finding venues to accommodate it. This has been especially challenging in promoting a sport that is unknown by the Swiss community and is normally greeted with a ‘C’est quoi le netball?’
But having my home in Meinier at the time and after lots of conversations in the playground and around municipal councillors the doors opened gently in 2011 to me and the club has since been able to bring netball to Cologny, Puplinge and Chêne-Bougeries.
The club operates in French and English and works hand in hand with local communes to deliver the sport all of whom have marked netball lines in their salles de gym which was a big step for the club. Meinier Club now has a francophone President who is able to foster positive and coherent messages with the communes.
On a really positive note the netball Club of Meinier was given a Mérite Meynite prize in 2017 for contribution to the local community and for the standards achieved by players and more recently Meinier Netball was awarded the Mérite Collongeois 2024 for it’s ongoing commitment to young women across the Rive Gauche region.
Love words and word games? Want to learn and improve your English and your memory? Curious about Scrabble? Or just looking for a fun relaxed evening with a nice bunch of people?
Come join SESA’s Scrabble Open House — open to everyone from beginners/newbies to enthusiasts to long-time word wizards!
- A friendly aperitif to mingle
- Word games to break the ice
- Short demo rounds
And yes, real Scrabble games... let’s play!
If you are new to the game, this is your chance to discover the game, and, not to worry, we will coach and guide you. If you haven’t played the game for awhile, then this is your chance to get back into it. If you are an enthusiast, perhaps you might want to meet people who share your interest. No need to bring anything—just come with your curiosity and your jolly ol’ self.
The Morges Tulip Festival takes place every year - this year's theme is "WATER". The Parc de l'Indépendance de Morges becomes a fully flowering park where you can wander at your ease around the colorful flowerbeds boasting 140,000 flowers and around 350 varieties of tulips. This year the festival boasts its 55th edition and takes place from 28 March through 11 May 2025. A spectacular view of Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc is fronted by an abundance of flowers that will make every photo a winner.
You can now take advantage of the amazing weather among the tulips and of course the famous bulb sale mid-May (see below). The park is open daily and remember that Sunday, 11 May 2025 is Mother's Day in Switzerland.
The festival takes place on the shores of Lake Geneva, between the Château de Morges and the river La Morges. The Parc de l'Indépendance offers, in all seasons, a magnificent grassy setting and presents 50 varieties of trees such as impressive chestnut trees or giant sequoias. It is only a few meters from the historic city center, the CGN boat dock, restaurants, and shops.
The Association "Morges Fleur du Léman" organises the Tulip Festival and the Dahlia Festival every year. Along with narcissi, irises and daffodils, these are among the most beautiful flower gardens on Lake Geneva.
In addition to the colorful display of thousands of tulips in the Parc de l'Indépendance, visitors are enchanted by several oases planted with flowers, fountains and pots in the old town, in the Parc Seigneux and along the lake promenade. Admission to the Tulip Festival is free of charge and accessible to people with reduced mobility.
What is "Shakespeare in Love" about?
"On this stage, I have been free..."
At the time when Elizabeth I rules England, and London is filled with theatre companies competing for her attention, Viola de Lesseps, a bright noblewoman, falls in love with Shakespeare's writing and takes the chance to go undercover as a man so that she can act in his new play!
The story that follows promises comedy, drama, romance, and a rebellious spirit as talented actors bring this brilliant play to life.
Shakespeare is out of ideas, out of love, and in desperate need of a muse. Viola de Lesseps yearns for the stage, but as a woman her dream is forbidden. When fate throws them together, romance blossoms, and it seems all their dreams are about to come true.
But the course of true love never did run smooth…
We Are Merely Players - The Village Player's short play festival is just around the corner, with two evenings of drama, laughter, and unforgettable performances. Over two nights, you can enjoy three short plays. And The Village Players are offering one lucky knowitall.ch reader a chance to win a pair of tickets to the evening of your choice.
“Note to Sixth-Grade Self” by Julie Orringer. Directed by Tristan Pannatier
Synopsis: A 12-year-old girl is going through a difficult time at school, where she is rejected by her classmates. Fortunately, she can count on an unexpected help: her adult “self,” who guides her through time. Together, can they change the course of events?
- Bríd Corrigan
- Charlotte Berns
- Fleur Krüger
- Joséphine Tendon
“The Breakdown” by A. Dürrenmatt. Directed by Alessio Siviglia
Synopsis: A salesperson’s car breaks down and is forced to take refuge in the villa of a former judge. The play is a dark comedy, in which other guests arrive, and a trial takes place. The line between pretend and real becomes blurry.
- John Holmes
- Zoe Marsaly
- Bríd Corrigan
- Liz Watson
- Nicolas Delpy
- Kiarash Jamshidi
- Jamie Thompson
