With a well-deserved facelift of their facilities about to get underway, members of the Gisborne Netball Centre took time out at the weekend to recognise the past while also celebrating a new-look future.
An "End of an Era’’ event was held at the Centre before the courts and pavilion are demolished to make way for court resurfacing and a hub facility upgrade.
Gisborne Netball Centre has resided in Victoria Domain since 1933, with the original downstairs part of the pavilion opened in July 1954, and with the new developments will undergo the biggest changes to its facility in 70 years.
With a sprinkling of Life Members on hand, it was appropriate former Poverty Bay Netball Umpires Association President Betty Irving, who recently turned 100, opened the festivities with a game of Walking Netball taking centre stage.
Joining in the spirit of the occasion, Betty attended in appropriate fashion, decked out in her whites while also wearing her whistle, just in case she was needed for any officiating.
Betty earned her NZ Umpire qualification in 1962, was President of the Poverty Bay Netball Umpires Association from 1965-1972 and was awarded Life Membership in 1979.
Poverty Bay Netball Association became the Gisborne Netball Centre in 2000.