Editing Irene van Dyk (section)

==Early life and family==
Irene van Dyk is the daughter of Herman and Irene Viljoen.<ref name="n2l231212">{{cite web|url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/irene-van-dyk-christmas-without-my-mum-2585/|title=Irene van Dyk: ‘Christmas without my mum’|publisher=www.nowtolove.co.nz|date=23 December 2012|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> She was born in [[Vereeniging]], [[Gauteng]], [[South Africa]].<ref name="nzherald231012">{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/netball/silver-ferns/the-stuff-of-champions-irene-van-dyk/LBWZHBIBY6AA5X27VWRVWQQ3UA/|title=The stuff of champions: Irene van Dyk|publisher=www.nzherald.co.nz|date=23 October 2012|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="citizen120420">{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/women-in-sport-the-girl-from-vereeniging-who-became-a-global-netball-icon/|title=Women in Sport: The girl from Vereeniging who became a global netball icon|publisher=www.citizen.co.za|date=12 April 2020|access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> Her mother played korfball for South Africa and her father was an umpire. She is the youngest of four siblings and grew up on a farm in [[Meyerton, Gauteng]]. In her youth she showed potential as a track and field athlete. Between 1988 and 1990 she represented her province in the 400m and 100m hurdles at the [[South African Athletics Championships]].<ref name="bib">{{cite web|url=https://balanceisbetter.org.nz/qa-with-balance-is-better-champion-irene-van-dyk/|title=Q&A with Balance is Better Champion, Irene van Dyk|publisher=balanceisbetter.org.nz|access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> Her father died in 1992 during a routine appendix operation. Her mother passed away in July 2012 after a long battle with cancer.<ref name="n2l231212"/><ref name=stuff170712>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/netball/7291386/Irene-van-Dyk-played-despite-mothers-death|title=Irene van Dyk played despite mother's death|publisher=www.stuff.co.nz|date=17 July 2012|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref name=odt170712>{{cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/netball/netball-van-dyk-stars-after-mother-dies|title=Netball: Van Dyk stars after mother dies|publisher=www.odt.co.nz|date=17 July 2012|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> In 1994, she married Christie van Dyk. Christie and Irene met at university. Together the couple have one child, a daughter named Bianca (born c. 1998).<ref name="n2l231212"/><ref name="nzherald271005">{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/netball/silver-ferns/netball-van-dyk-prepares-to-rewrite-record-books/A6SBVLG5U6E7POSOLYDI2G3CA4/|title=Netball: Van Dyk prepares to rewrite record books|publisher=www.nzherald.co.nz|date=27 October 2005|access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="n2l190712">{{cite web|url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/irene-van-dyk-ill-never-give-up-2470/|title=Irene van Dyk: ‘I’ll never give up’|publisher=www.nowtolove.co.nz|date=19 July 2012|access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="stuff251023">{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/parenting/133175255/silver-ferns-legend-irene-van-dyk-wanted-six-kids--but-she-would-never-give-up-the-bib|title=Silver Ferns legend Irene van Dyk wanted six kids - but she would never give up the bib|publisher=www.stuff.co.nz|date=25 October 2023|access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> In 2000, after moving to New Zealand, van Dyk began working as a schoolteacher at   
[[Fergusson Intermediate]].<ref name="uhcl160200">{{cite web|url=https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/17893|title=Fergusson Intermediate; netballer Irene van Dyk welcomed to the staff by kapa haka group|publisher=uhcl.recollect.co.nz|date=16 February 2000|access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="uhcl">{{cite web|url=https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24211|title=Irene van Dyk|publisher=uhcl.recollect.co.nz|date= |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="nzherald091100">{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/netball/netball-husbands-abuse-therapy-for-van-dyk/P42TWXB5NCAIQ3MR4BTGPA5QRM/|title=Netball: Husband's abuse therapy for van Dyk|publisher=www.nzherald.co.nz|date=9 November 2000|access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="stuff150609">{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2461488/Straightshooter-plays-by-the-rules|title=Straightshooter plays by the rules|publisher=www.stuff.co.nz|date=15 June 2009|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>