Australian netballers Kelsey and Madi Browne heartbroken by death of ‘beautiful’ mum Chris

The Australian sporting community is in mourning after the mother of two former Diamonds netball stars died following a battle with cancer.

Chris Browne died on Saturday night surrounded by husband Mark, a former Geelong footballer, and their daughters Madi and Kelsey.

The Browne sisters paid tribute on Sunday, saying “our beautiful wife and mum became our angel”.

“Loved so dearly and already missed so deeply we will never meet another Chris Browne,” they wrote.

“A lover of life who truly lived it to the fullest with unparalleled energy, passion and kindness.

“Mum was the backbone of the family with a spirit stronger and more resilient than anything. So strong we still and will always feel her right here.

“The sheer amount of messages of love and concern and just how many people have wrapped their arms around our family shows how special she was to so many and how far her impact reached. All we can say is thank you.

“We love you Mum, ‘to the moon and back’ as you would say.

“You are the brightest light in our sky. Rest easy.”

Tributes flowed from around netball and football, while the wider Geelong community also mourned the former primary school teacher and leader.

Kelsey’s AFL star partner Luke Jackson shared the Browne sisters’ post with Tina Turner’s Simply the Best attached.

“The most beautiful and kind person I’ve ever come across,” he wrote.

“Forever grateful I got to build a relationship with you and for how much you have helped me grow. I love your Wally! Love you Chris, Luke.”

Madi’s prominent former teammate Renae Ingles simply said: “Chris made the world a better place.”

Channel 7’s Abbey Holmes wrote: “Oh Kels. This is just heartbreaking! Thinking of your family. Sending so much love & strength xx.”

Cats legend Joel Selwood said: “Thinking of you guys.”

Renee Enright, the wife of Geelong great Corey, wrote: “Oh beautiful family, sending so much love. Your mum lit up every room she entered, she was truly effervescent with the biggest heart, I’ll never forget the moments she helped our family and supported our kids at different ages and stages. She had such a positive wonderful energy and she was so proud of you girls. She beamed when she spoke of her family. Thinking of you all at this time.”

Diamonds star Jo Weston wrote: “Big love to you and the fam. Chris was a ray of sunshine and always cared deeply for people, she will be deeply missed.”

Ex-Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said: “Oh so sad. Love to you both Madi and Kelsey and to Mark. Such a wonderful person and mum to all of us.”

The Brownes thanked Chris’s care teams at Geelong cancer centres and hospitals, suggesting donations in lieu of flowers.

Nearly $8000 has been raised at the time of writing.

Madi, 37, and Kelsey, 33, have stepped into broadcast roles since retiring in 2020 and 2024 respectively.

Madi won two Liz Ellis Medals during her stellar career while Kelsey stepped up into the Diamonds squad after her sister’s international retirement in 2018.

Their father Mark played 87 VFL/AFL games for Geelong across 1974-78.