Kay O’Reilly gave a lifetime of service to sport and teaching. She supported thousands of girls and women, particularly through netball, in the art of the game and life.
Kay was a wife, mother, sportsperson, coach, sports administrator, mentor and mother figure to so many in the netball and rugby worlds.
Kay passed away peacefully in the company of her family in New Plymouth earlier this month.
A pivotal presence in both Canterbury and New Zealand netball, Kay was well known for coaching memorable teams in Canterbury, both club and representative, through winning campaigns.
Kay’s contribution as a Canterbury representative and club coach is an important part of her legacy. She took an innovative and creative approach to coaching and was well respected by her players. Kay served as the Canterbury Coach from 1984 - 87.
Celebrated by many friends of netball across Aotearoa, Kay has also been remembered for her influence in building Christchurch Netball’s Hagley Park home, to ensure participation and pathways would have space to grow.
According to good friend and fellow CNC life member Jan Hefford, who served with Kay on the Hagley Park fundraising committee, Kay’s love of the game started in South Canterbury.
Together she and Jan served on the Canterbury Netball Executive.
“We organised the World Golden Oldies tournament here in Christchurch, and Kay was part of that,” says Jan.
Settling into the Christchurch scene, from her hometown of Timaru, Kay quickly became a driving force behind the Sacred Heart Netball Club.
She was appreciated for her remarkable service and dedication as coach, manager and president of the club (known as Hearts Saint Peter's Netball Club following amalgamation with St Peter's Netball).
Kay selected South Island teams, earning a stint as Silver Ferns selector.
Kay’s successor as Sacred Heart club president, Adrianne Hayes, is now the Silver Ferns selection panel convenor.
Adrianne remembers: “Kay had a way of ‘telling it how it was, always with humour and kindness. You left knowing what she did not agree with and what needed to happen to improve.”
“Kay was very up front about what her thoughts were. She created great teams. People wanted to play for Kay.”
Sports broadcaster Lesley Murdoch sums up Kay’s influence.
“She was a bright, effervescent, funny woman who liked people, and that came out in her interaction with people in the netball and rugby worlds. She was a person, when she walked in the room, she had that mana.”
Many tributes have highlighted the way that, according to Adrianne, “there was always someone in her house, being fed or staying with her.”
Lesley agrees. “They were people who had come in from other parts of the country and other parts of the world. Kay’s place was always available. There was always someone in her house, being mentored, looked after, supported, whatever was going on in their world. It was above and beyond what most people would do.”
“She was a mentor to many,” Jan recalls, “motivated by her love of the game. Everybody just loved her.”