As recipients of the Netball New Zealand (NNZ) Service Award for 2023, 18 personnel, from wide-ranging and diverse areas of impact, have been acknowledged for their long and selfless contribution to the sport.
Former Silver Ferns greats Leana de Bruin, Laura Langman and Adine Wilson have been acknowledged for their years of loyal international duty and lengthy careers.
Current Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua and her assistant Debbie Fuller have been recognised for their considerable input into coaching at the elite level while also conducting clinics and mentoring many others on their coaching journeys.Kristie Simpson, New Zealand’s most capped national league umpire, and Gareth Fowler, who will both be in action at July’s Netball World Cup in South Africa, have received Service Awards for their contribution to umpiring.
Former umpire Kirsten Lloyd, who has continued her long involvement with the discipline, passing on her knowledge in ongoing roles, also receives a Service Award. Lloyd has been an umpire selector while currently has cadet status on the International Umpires’ Award Testing Panel.
Kate Agnew has been acknowledged for her long and unstinting dedication while an employee of NNZ where she worked across several roles, including Strategic Projects Lead, Head of Events and International, and Operations Director during her 21 years.
2023 NNZ Service Awards:
Kate Agnew - NNZ (Netball South Canterbury Endorsed)
Julie Bennett - Auckland Netball Centre
Barbara Bialy - Netball Hutt Valley
Mary-Rose Cullen- Invercargill Netball Centre
Leana de Bruin - NNZ (Rotorua Netball Centre Endorsed)
Gareth Fowler - NNZ (Netball Central Zone Endorsed)
Debbie Fuller - NNZ (Tauranga Netball Centre Endorsed)
Laura Langman - NNZ (Te Awamutu Netball Centre Endorsed)
Leah Lazarus - Netball North Harbour
Kirsten Lloyd - Netball Wellington Centre
Murray Lockwood - Netball Northern Zone (Papakura Netball Centre Endorsed)
Maree McMillan - Invercargill Netball Centre
Nicki Paterson - Dunedin Netball Centre
Kristie Simpson - NNZ (Netball South Zone Endorsed)
Noeline Taurua - NNZ (Tauranga Netball Centre Endorsed)
Joyce Walsh - Christchurch Netball Centre
Adine Wilson - Auckland Netball Centre
Lyn Wilson - Dunedin Netball Centre