‘I loved growing up in Alice, there were so many opportunities, especially with sport’: Meet sports star Michelle Ellis

MICHELLE Ellis is a great lady and an incredibly gifted natural sportswoman. READ HER STORY HERE Michelle’s dream is to one day be a police officer, and all of her dreams have been beautifully supported by an immensely loving family. Born in Ballarat, when Michelle was five-years-old she came with her family to Alice Springs. “I loved growing up in Alice, there were so many opportunities, especially with sport,” Michelle told the NT News. MORE TRIBES OF THE TERRITORY The power of heart, energy and drive: The Katrina Parrington story Abby Chin shining her light from within The American idol who became an all-star Australian “In primary school they used to call me ‘Smiley’, because I always had a smile on my face. I was quite, but always smiling. “When I was eight I got in to basketball. My older sister Jaz (Jaslyn) was playing, and I went on from there. “I lived at the basketball stadium! I played for Memo Magic, then moved over to Federal Wallabies.” Michelle is one of Alice’s most successful basketballers. She was selected to represent the Northern Territory at the National Championships at Under 14, 16 and 18 level. Particularly impressive is that she was selected in all those years as a bottom age player. In other words, even at age 12, she was good enough to take on the best in Australia at Under 14 level. Michelle won a swag of flags, trophies and MVPs, to the extent the Australian Institute of Sport brought her across to Canberra as an Under 16. Between rep basketball and school sports, Michelle travelled all over Australia – as far south as Tasmania, and even back to her birth town, Ballarat. The next stop was the home of world basketball, the United States of America. Michelle went with the Northern Territory National Intensive Training Program. “I was pretty excited, and nervous at the same time,” she said. “It was a really great opportunity. We flew to Los Angeles and then across the Charlotte and we travelled and played throughout North and South Carolina.” The Carolinas are the Promised Land of US basketball – the home of everyone from the greatest, Michael Jordan, to modern day star Steph Curry. The US College system is the breeding ground of the NBA, and the most highly renowned are based where Michelle went in the south. “We toured all of the Colleges like University of North Carolina, Duke University, Wake Forest,” she said. “We played seven games in total, and we actually did really well. We only lost one game.” After Year 12, Michelle moved to Cairns to play in the Queensland Basketball League. “I played with the Cairns Dolphins. There was a step-up playing in Queensland. It was really good. I saw a different side of basketball, waking up early to train, recovery, food prep. I really enjoyed it.” Michelle then went to the Arafura Games and won gold. “That was a great experience. Our coach from then Rod Tremlett is still a really good friend of mine,” she said. “He coached me through juniors, at Under 18 Nationals, and he’s been a constant in my life ever since. He always encourages me and we have a special friendship.” Michelle says another great influence was the late Tracy Braun. “Tracy was an old school teacher of mine,” said Michelle. “Tracy was a really significant part of my life.” Michelle’s move to Cairns – out of home and out of the Territory – at such a young age showed a huge amount of courage and a deep inner self-belief. “I didn’t get to come back to Alice too often, but Mum and Dad would come over,” she said. “I moved across with my friend Staci Trindle-Price and we lived together. That definitely helped! MORE TRIBES OF THE TERRITORY Brilliant mind, great heart: The Rachael McCullough story A real-world role model to inspire us all: The Dave Fendt story Following his passions to build an extraordinary life: The Dave Ives story “I came back to Alice after two seasons because I wanted to get in to the NT Police.” Michelle says becoming a cop is a dream she’s held from a very young age. “Ever since I was 10 or 11 I wanted to work with the police. I’ve always been interested in it. “A challenging but rewarding job. No two days are the same, and there’s a lot of diversity in the job. And it’s something that would really challenge me both physically and mentally.” Michelle found another great job upon returning home to Alice, working as a teaching aid at Ross Park. Back in Alice, Michelle was playing basketball, and some friends talked her in to trying netball. After starting in C-Grade, the natural ability soon had her rising up the grades with Rovers. Michelle enjoyed Grand Final winning success, before another sport opened a whole new chapter in her life. “Once again, some friends asked if I’d want to play footy. I ummed and ahhed, and then said yes,” she said. “I’d always loved footy! I’m an Essendon supporter. I did Auskick when I was younger. I’d go for kicks of the footy with my brother Ben. But I’d never thought about playing as such.” Michelle has become one of the Territory’s finest, playing centre-half-forward with Pioneers she won the Bev Ellis Medal as best-a-field in the 2019 winning Grand Final. The previous season she was the leading goal-kicker in the competition. Michelle combined the Alice footy season, with playing in the Top End with the Darwin Buffaloes. Continuing to shine on the field, Michelle was selected in the NT Thunder team playing in the VFLW. The VFLW is second highest level of women’s footy in the country, based around the reserves teams of Victorian stronghold clubs like Collingwood and Carlton. The Thunder’s time in the comp saw women from Alice, Darwin, Katherine and throughout the Territory take-on some of the best players in Australia. “I was away nearly every week playing. I loved being able to travel,” she said. “We were also associated with the Adelaide Crows girls. It was a great experience.” The biggest highlight was when they played a VFLW game in Ballarat. Michelle Ellis had come full circle. Back to where she was born, this time representing the place she’s made home, the Northern Territory, in front of all her family. Michelle’s job with Territory Families took her to Darwin more than a year ago, and the move rekindled her love for basketball. Playing with the Tracy Village Jets, Michelle helped power the team to an undefeated regular season, before unfortunately going down in the Grand Final to Lightning. For Lightning it was three flags in-a-row, so certainly no shame in the loss for the Jets’ women. Michelle says they’ll be back to go one better this upcoming season. While sport is paramount, one thing even more dear to Michelle’s heart is family. “Mum (Lorraine) is my rock. She has been there and done everything for us since we were young,” she said. “She’s been a manager on some of my trips away with sport. She did fundraisers for us. She’s a Mum to everyone. “Mum will go above and beyond to help anyone. She’s an amazing person. She does so much for her kids, and doesn’t expect anything in return. “My Dad (Bill) and I have a special relationship. I’m the baby girl, and we just have a really special bond. “I’m really interested in the Ellis family history. Dad and I did a trip back to Victoria together and saw all his family and where they all grew up. That was a really special thing to do with him. “I always love hearing him tell stories about where he grew up. There’s so much history! Dad loves telling stories! $1 FOR ALL YOUR NEWS? HERE’S HOW: Sign up now to our amazing deal of $1 for 28 days “I’ve always looked up to my older sister Jaz. She has two beautiful boys, Jet and Hunter! I’m a very proud aunty. Jaz’s partner Chad just adores the kids. “My younger brother Ben are I are really similar. We both love sport! “We are all very lucky we get along together. Family means everything, and it’s the same for all of us. We’d do anything for our family.” Michelle Ellis has made an epic impact on the NT both on and off the sporting field, and she’ll make one hell of a great cop.