By Amanda Myler
Charlie Preston has relocated half way across the world in what is her first time living outside of the family home.
Life at King's College, a residential community within The University of Queensland, is vastly different from Dubai, where Preston was raised after her Australian-born parents accepted a work opportunity almost 20 years ago.
The 19-year-old’s netball resume is lined with UAE elite representative honours; commencing at the age of 15 when she became the youngest player on the UAE Open Netball team.
Yet not until this season, starting for the Carina Leagues Club Tigers in the HART Premier Netball League (HPNL), has the 185cm-tall goal shooter truly been tested on the court.
"I always knew I was going to come back home to do university and continue my netball," Preston said.
"A few of us, all Aussies, had the same plan and we’d been following the Queensland netball league on KommunityTV from Dubai, looking into all the teams. I met (Tigers Head Coach) Katie (Walker) on a Zoom call for about three minutes and knew I wanted to play for the Tigers."
What followed was an unplanned flight to Brisbane to attend a Walker-led Tigers training session in October, and a subsequent offer to join the Sapphires squad for the 2025 season.
Now four months into her adventure, Preston said life in Australia remains surprising on many levels.
"One thing I’ve noticed is that the grassroots level here is huge," Preston said.
"I can’t wrap my head around it. I’ve no idea other than what Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald levels are. I just found out what State Titles are, and I helped out at the Senior State Age and was blown away by how many teams there were."
Preston has played all three games for the Tigers so far in the 2025 HPNL Sapphire season, with her enthusiasm for her new team growing by the minute.
"I absolutely love it," she said.
"It’s still an adjustment. Our first win last weekend felt great, but even when we’re not winning we don’t feel defeated because there are so many positives to take out of the game. I’m counting down the days until the next game."
Round four pits the Tigers against the second-placed Kedron-Wavell Cougars on Saturday, June 28 at Nissan Arena from 6pm.
"It’s very physical over here," Preston said.
"I haven’t really played anything like it, and I love a little scrap on court. I also love how we can have that, but afterwards everyone is having fun and knows each other, like one big community. The biggest takeaway for me is how optimistic I feel about the move."
This weekend's HPNL action doubles as the competition's Pride Round, with Ruby, Sapphire and M-League teams proudly celebrating inclusion, diversity and love across the game.
KommunityTV is your home to watch Queensland’s top talents LIVE and exclusive. Two matches each round from the top-flight Sapphire division are being exclusively live streamed on News Corp Australia mastheads, including The Courier-Mail and Gold Coast Bulletin.
WATCH THE 2025 HART PREMIER NETBALL LEAGUE LIVE.
For the full HPNL Sapphire draw, click HERE.
