TAUPO NETBALL CENTRE INCORPORATED -
CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
1953-2003
The Fifties
When Mrs Betty Reid (nee Walters) came to Taupo in 1952 - fresh from the Auckland Teachers' Training College - to teach at the Taupo District Highschool, basketball (as the sport was then called) was only played in the schools, the main women's sport in the winter being hockey.
Mrs Reid's favourite sporting codes have always been tennis (summer) and netball (winter), so, with Mrs Shirley Laughton who was teaching at the Highschool, and the late Mrs Eunice Birnie (proprietor of the Spa Hotel, wanting some outside sport other than hockey for her girls), netball was started.
On the 13th June in 1953, the Taupo Basketball Sub-Association was formed from three basketball clubs - Highschool, Huka and Crusaders.
The first patron was the late Miss K.O. Lewis, a councillor, who donated the K.O. Lewis Cup.
The first President was Mrs Shirley Laughton and the secretary-treasurer, Mrs Betty Reid who later became the longest standing President.
Within a year of its formation, the Association had grown from a membership of three to eight clubs.
In 1954 Mrs Norma Bates was elected President, a post she held for two years.
In 1955 the Taupo representative team toured the South Island with Mrs Judy Pearce as manager and President, Mrs Norma Bates as co-manager. Many of the squad attended the Silver Jubilee in 1978.
In 1956 the Taupo Borough Council provided courts beside the Memorial Hall, where the Story Place car park was situated. The playing uniforms in those days were gym tunics, long-sleeved white shirts, ties and long black stockings - runs in the stockings and skinned knees were a natural sight on playing days!
The courts were used until 1956 when new ones were opened in Redoubt Street.
During 1957 and 1958, when Mrs C. Fowler was President, junior and intermediate grades were introduced. Competitors played for the Birnie and Balmforth Cups.
In 1959, Mrs P. Nicolas took over as President for one season. The patron Mrs O. Story, wife of the mayor at that time, donated the 'Story Cup'. The Cup has been presented at Taupo's annual representative tournament and celebrated its 40th birthday on Sunday 8th August 1999.
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1955 Taupo Basketball Sub-Association Representative team
Back Row: J Pearce(Manager), B Wynyard (nee Rameka), P Moke (nee Maniapoto), Z Tawera,
H Koopu (nee Morehu), E Bradshaw (nee Darlington), C Pitiroi, N Bates (Co - Manager)
Front Row: J White (nee Habib), M Jones, K O'Callaghan (nee Reid), S Hay, S Orr (nee George),
L Andrews
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The Sixties
The late Mrs Pat Balmforth was President in 1960 when the new netball courts were opened in Redoubt Street. The late Mrs E. Birnie was elected President in 1961 and Mrs Betty Reid took over in 1962.
A representative team from Taupo, with Mrs Reid as manager travelled to Whangarei in that year, to participate in a tournament there. Among the players were Barbara Williams (nee Wallace), Judith McGreevy (nee Delany) and the late Margaret Hurae (nee Pitiroi).
The pavilion at the Redoubt Street courts brought in 1968 was a small shed, which served as a shop, changing rooms and office. There were no toilets and the players either used the facilities at the Taupo Gymnasium Hall or those at the nearby camping ground.
In 1967, a very strong Putaruru team won the Story Cup but in 1968 under the leadership of Dianne Grant (nee Broughton), Taupo won this coveted outdoor basketball trophy for the first time since its inception.
The year 1966 heralded the arrival to Taupo of the late Mrs Christina Wills, proficient sports administrator and promoter of netball and softball from junior to senior level.
Mrs Wills showed a keen interest in netball and was soon heavily involved in the administration of the sport. She also exerted tremendous influence on the development of softball in Taupo.
The year 1968 saw the name of outdoor Basketball officially changed to NETBALL.
Barbara Williams who was a South Waikato representative in 1960 and 1961, but played only once on both occasions, was the outstanding centre of the team in 1969 and was rested in only one game at the Dominion tournament in Wanganui. She was Taupo's netball player of the year.
The Seventies
Months of intensive organisation by the Taupo Netball executive committee culminated in the arrival of the Fijian Netball team in Taupo in July 1970. Six hundred spectators were treated to some scintillating netball when Taupo played against Fiji. Taupo tried hard but were outplayed by brilliant interceptions, spectacular leaping for high passes, and accurate goaling by the visitors, earning them a win 40-26. Those to stand out in a fine local team effort were the wing-attack and captain, Louise Stevens (nee Young) and the centre, Diane Romley.
Since 1962, the 'College A' team had been the champions in the Senior A grade Taupo Netball Association competitions. In 1970 however, stiff competition from the newly formed 'Kiwi' team broke their 'mana' at last.
Taupo also had a visit in this year by Rothmans National Netball Coach, Miss Marion Smith. Miss Smith came to promote Netball.
Louise Stevens came to Taupo early in 1970 to be supervisor of the newly opened Hinemoa Kindergarten, and planned to try her hand a various other sports, chief among them being golf. Through her persuasive and energetic approach, Chris Wills talked Louise into starting a new club 'Kiwi'. At the end of the 1970 season presentations, Kiwi I won the Senior A grade - K.O. Lewis Cup and Kiwi II won the Senior B grade Challenge Cup.
The South Waikato sole selector coach, Mrs Yvonne Sycamore was delighted to welcome Louise to the South Waikato netball scene and named her in the successful South Waikato team which defeated Fiji. Louise, along with Barbara Willams and Jacquie Kahu (nee Robertson) of Taupo, were also in the South Waikato team that won the third grade competitions at the National tournament in Palmerston North, earning them promotion to the second grade.
In 1971 Louise capped a long career in netball with selection in the New Zealand netball team due to tour Tonga, Western Samoa and Fiji. Louise captained the team.
Barbara Williams
South Waikato Rep 1960,61,69,70
C W.A W.D
Captian / Coach |
Jacqueline Robertson
South Waikato Rep 1970
G.D G.K
now J.Kahu |
Ellen Martin
Taupo Rep 1967, 1968, 1969
South Waikato Trialist
G.A
now E. Murch |
Polly-Ann Kapua
Third form Rep 1969
College A team, 1970
G.S
Officials |
Louise Young
North Island Rep 1969
South Waikato Rep 1970
C W.A W.D G.D
Vice Captain
now L. Stevens |
Christine Cairns
Played senior grade
in NSW for 2 years.
Massey University, 1967
G.S |
Margaret Schreiber
South Waikato Trialist
South Auck. Netball Assoc. Umpire
G.K G.D W.D |
Mrs B Reid
Selector, Manager.
President, Taupo Netball Assoc |
Dianne Romley
Manawatu Rep 1966,67,68
South Waikato Trialist
C |
Jean Mato
South Waikato Trialist
G.K |
Donna Hook
South Waikato Trialist 1968, 1969
W.A G.D W.D |
Mrs J McGreevy
Secretary
Taupo Netball Assoc |
Taupo Senior Women's Team, which played Fiji Women's Team - at the Taupo Domain Thursday 9th July 1970.
In 1972 in recognition of her service to netball, Mrs Reid was sent to Blenheim for the national tournament where she saw the South Waikato team emerge as co-winners with North Shore, of the President's Shield.
On points North Shore won promotion to the first grade. Two local girls, Louise and Pam Gardener, were in the South Waikato team.
1973 saw Mrs Joyce McCann, New Zealand Netball Association President, call in at the Taupo Domain courts on her way to Putaruru, where the South Waikato Netball Association was celebrating 25 years of affiliation to the New Zealand Association.
The South Waikato Netball Association area embraced Taupo, Tokoroa and Putaruru.
In 1974 Taupo netball players, Irene Henry and Nicki Davison were selected to represent Taupo to promote netball.
In 1974 Mrs Reid who had served as President for 12 years and had actively engaged in umpiring for as many years, was made a life member of the Taupo Netball Association, and Mrs Wills took over as President, with Mrs V. Currie, the mayors wife, as patron.
Mrs Wills immediately displayed her drive in the promotion of netball at Taupo and at national level by leading a fund raising campaign for a netball pavilion, and in 1975, co-ordinating its construction. She also headed a sub-committee responsible for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Taupo Netball Association in 1978.
The New Zealand Netball Association President, Mrs Ann Taylor of Hamilton, who attended the celebration congratulated Taupo on their notable progress and said that the pavilion was probably the most attractive she had seen.
1976 - Rothmans's National Netball Coach, Miss Marion Smith conducted coaching clinics at the Taupo Domain netball courts, and advised of the major international rule change requiring all players to wear eight-inch positional bibs from that season.
Mrs Chris Wills and Mrs Mary Vincent (Taupo Netball Association Secretary) were appointed as South Waikato delegates to the New Zealand Netball Association.
Three young Taupo netball players, Jenny Wills, Sandy Courtney and Venna Albert were named for South Waikato for the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Championships at Palmerston North.
1977 - Louise Stevens was named selector-coach of the South Waikato Provincial team for the season. She was playing for the Kiwi senior team in Taupo at the time.
Christine Vincent - Taupo Nui-a-tia College wing-attack and centre, was named in the South Waikato team to play in the North Island Secondary Schools' Championships at Palmerston North.
The Eighties
In 1980 Louise Stevens succeeded Mrs Wills as President. With an increase of senior teams to fifty, plus forty in the junior morning section, the Association was over-taxed as far as the courts were concerned. At least another two were needed!
At the end of the season Louise informed the Association that she was leaving the district, and paid tribute to the many associates and friends who had made her eleven years in Taupo an enjoyable time.
Mrs Trixie Grainger took over as President in 1981, and South Waikato gained a new netball selector-coach in Barbara Williams. She replaced Louise Stevens.
Mrs Wills, a stalwart of college netball, announced her retirement, but would end her years of devotion, with a school netball tour of Sydney and Canberra in August.
1981 - The Form 1 representative team coached by Liz Mativa, and the Form 2 representative team, coached by Dora Pahewa were successful at tournaments in Te Puke, Rotorua and Taupo.
1982 - Mrs Wills was made a life member of the Taupo Netball Association.
From 1968-1978 she had been the Taupo delegate on the South Waikato netball committee. Nationally, Mrs Wills represented South Waikato on the New Zealand Netball Association council in 1974-75, and was the co-ordinator for the council meeting held at the Taupo College in 1975.
Taupo athlete Noleen Taurua, 13, won three of the four events she entered at the inter-provincial athletic championships at the meeting in Dunedin, where nine provinces were represented. She was the only Taupo athlete chosen for the Waikato team. Noleen played netball to keep fit during the winter.
At the major Lakeland Sports Awards for 1982, Barbara Williams won the Sports Administrator Award. She coached eight netball teams during the season, as well as took and active part as committee member of the Taupo Netball Association, the parent South Waikato Netball Association, and the Cossie Rebels Netball Club.
The South Waikato representative netball squad, which Barbara coached, won the National second grade competition and was promoted to the first grade.
1983 - Two women who nurtured the Taupo Netball Umpire Association through its first thirteen years were honoured with the first life memberships to be conferred. They were Mrs Margaret Barker, the first President, and the patroness, Mrs Betty Reid. Since the Umpires Association was formed in 1970, it had been an integral part of the growth of netball, as one of Taupo's leading participation sports.
Retiring President, Mrs Rona Hancock, Taupo's highest graded umpire, holding her New Zealand certificate, conferred the honours. The late Mrs Chris Spain took over as President. .
Netball coach, Mrs Lillian Hancock (nee Mazel) became one of the first people in Taupo to pass the elementary coaching examination. Her examiner was Barbara Williams..
Mrs Cilla Waho became the second Taupo netball umpire to receive her New Zealand umpire's badge. The award, the highest obtainable, qualified her to umpire New Zealand representative games. Cilla said she had been working towards the New Zealand badge since 1980, having started umpiring in 1971.
The South Waikato under 20 netball team won the Waikato Region of the Prudential Regional Under Twenty Tournament in Taupo giving them the bonus of playing in the New Zealand finals later on in the season.
Noleen Tauroa, Paula Hickey and Natalie Healey, were members of that successful team.
1984 The Taupo Netball Umpires Association was fortunate in getting Sandy Davies, the only male umpire in Taupo, to assist in controlling some of the games. Sandy had been involved with netball for about 15 years and had completed the theory section of the provincial umpires' qualification.
Rona Hancock as President of the Taupo Netball Association and holding a New Zealand Umpires' badge, probably had something to do with Sandy's umpiring in a women's world.
1985-1987, Jacquie Kahu took over as President of the Taupo Netball Association and in 1986 Netball made the most memorable move to Owen Delany Park. At the opening ceremony the patron, Mrs Reid, paid tribute to two dedicated and hard-working women, President, Jacquie and Secretary, Mrs Polly Taurua, who with a supportive committee, had made the mover possible.
1988 Louisa Wall took her place as the youngest member of the 'Young Internationals' squad, to train under former New Zealand Captain and New Zealand Coach, Lyn Parker.
In 1989, she was named in the New Zealand Silver Ferns Netball Team. Louisa had been an outstanding athlete and a brilliant scholar at Taupo Nui-a-tia College.
The Nineties
Barbara Williams took over as President of the Taupo Netball Association from 1988 - 1991.
1990 Mrs Margaret Barker was presented with a service award for twenty-seven years dedication and involvement to the sport of netball in Taupo. She had umpired senior and junior local games, coached several junior representative teams with success, set, supervised, marked papers, trained umpires and had been a delegate to the Taupo Netball Association.
As Vice-President, Margaret was involved in the allocation and control of netball games each Saturday and was instrumental in establishing 'Kiwi Netball' in Taupo for the first time.
1992 saw the end of the Taupo Netball Umpires Association, which for twenty-two years had been an integral part of the growth of netball in Taupo.
On Thursday 31st March 1994, Taupo was devastated by the tragic news of the death of Mrs Christina Wills. Among those who paid tributes to Chris as she lay at the funeral parlour, was Louisa Wall - "Mrs Wills gave me the confidence to eventually become a fine player in the New Zealand Silver Ferns, as well as become Vice-Captain of the team", she said.
1977 - Mrs Barbara Williams, the first home-grown candidate for this award, was honoured with life membership of the Taupo Netball Association. She had been involved in netball for thirty-three years and had experienced the highs and lows of the code - as a representative player, locally and nationally, a coach of primary girls to senior local level, and national level, President of the Taupo Netball Association, a provincial umpire, a draw steward and New Zealand examiner of netball coaching.
1998-2000 heralded Piri Robinson as President, a very competent Lil Hancock as Administration Manager, some valuable committee members, club delegates and women and men volunteers, who gave up their precious time to help foster netball in Taupo, simply because they loved the game.
Of note during Piri's reign as President, was winning four major awards at the 1999 Sports Awards, and the winning of the Taupo Netball Centre of the Year, in the Netball Waikato Region Awards 2000.
In 2001, Patsy Pearce took over as President of the Taupo Netball Association. In her report at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 12th March 2003, she thanked her Administration Manager, Mrs Tracy Keys, the junior co-ordinators, Sue Barnes, Wendy Goodwin and their team of volunteers; the draw-steward, Jeanette Paenga; Liz Mativa and her team of volunteers who ran all team trials; the Richmond Rockies Club who continued to run the Netty's Fun Ferns 3-8 years programme and Joanne Davis-Goff, for her time and input into coaching classes; the co-ordinators, Jeanette Paenga and Michelle Kennedy and their team of umpires, who ran the mixed Indoor League Competition; and the sponsors, whose contributions enabled the provision of programmes and prizes for many Taupo Netball Association members and volunteers in 2002.
Patsy Pearce also outlined the special highlights and Taupo Netball Association achievements for 2002 -
'New Rules and Questions' evening
Hosts for National Bank teams practice games
Host for New Zealand A vs. Barbados game
Host for New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships
Taupo Energy Contact Taupo District Sports Awards 2002 - Team of the Year nomination and winners - Kazbar Athletic Saints.
Netball Waikato Region Inaugural Festival Days - F1, F2 and U15.
In conclusion, Patsy wished all incoming members the best for the 2003 season.
The Taupo Netball Association Incorporated celebrated its Golden Year Jubilee - 1953 - 2003 on Friday 30th May - Sunday 1st June 2003.
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