Meet Brianna Keyes, Class of 2011. She's had quite an exciting journey, starting from her early school days all the way to where she is today.
Brianna's connection with Hills Grammar runs deep. She began her educational adventure there, starting from kindergarten and going all the way through Year 12. But her real sports journey didn't kick off until she was 16 when she discovered her passion for handball.
Her handball journey had a unique start - right before the big handball gala day where her team qualified for the state school championships, she suffered an injury. But that injury turned out to be a pivotal moment. During the tournament, she received a letter from some scouts inviting her to try out for the NSW under-16 team.
Starting as one of the bench players, she worked her way up to become one of the starters in the semi-finals.
Brianna made a huge decision and chose to give up representative basketball to focus solely on handball. This dedication paid off as she tried out for the junior Australian team. Together with her team, she travelled to New Caledonia during year 11. It didn't stop there; the team also competed at the Youth Olympics in Singapore and the Junior World Championships in Korea.
After finishing school, Brianna continued her education at the Australian College of Physical Education, where she completed a Bachelor of Health and Movement and earned a graduate diploma in education. But her ties to Hills Grammar didn't end there. She returned and had the incredible opportunity to teach in the PDHPE department on a casual basis. While teaching, she developed a NESA-accredited course aimed at helping PE teachers enhance their skills and introduce their students to the joy of handball. Her goal was to spread the love of the sport among young Aussies.
Handball remained at the forefront of her life, and she opted for more casual teaching jobs while also exploring the world. She dedicated the next eight years to handball, including a leadership role at the senior women’s world championships in Japan in 2019.
However, life threw her a curveball. Brianna had to retire from the sport due to an ankle injury. Despite enduring multiple surgeries, she couldn't run or play social sports anymore, marking a significant shift in her identity and life as an athlete.
But there's more to Brianna than just sports. She met her husband at a cross-country carnival, and together they embarked on adventures to over 40 countries. In November 2022, they tied the knot. During their time in the UK, her husband pursued a career as a professional rugby player, while she worked in schools and continued to play handball. They also lived in Hong Kong during the protests. More recently, they've settled in Canberra. Both now work in education software sales, and their home is shared with a cute mini labradoodle named Moseley, named after her husband's rugby club in the UK.
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