Four longstanding netball supporters have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their exceptional contribution to the sport.
Kathleen Farrell, Colleen Lyons, Heather Williamson and Netball New Zealand (NNZ) Board Member Maxine Shortland were all recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit for their services to netball.
All four have had long associations with the sport, often starting as players but also having had a strong presence in administration later in their careers.
Farrell has been volunteering in the Waikato region since the 1950s taking on many roles following her playing days including umpire, coach, manager and administrator.
She has been instrumental in running the club competitions at the Minogue Park Netball Complex and organising national events hosted in Hamilton.
Farrell was also involved with the working group managing the transition process from the disestablishment of the Region into Centres and Zones.
Lyons has been recognised for her services to netball and education having been involved in every aspect of the game with Otago and Dunedin for over 50 years.
There is not much in the game that Lyons has not given a go having umpired, played, coached, managed and been in governance.
She was Assistant Principal at Queen’s High from 1997 until her retirement in 2008 and co-ordinated more than 30 netball teams every year, as well as coaching, managing, fundraising and helping with Secondary School tournaments.
Establishing the Tokoroa Netball Centre was just the start of Heather Williamson’s active involvement in netball, going on to be a member of the Centre’s management committee for more than 50 years.
Williamson has held almost every role possible including Life Member, President, Treasurer, Secretary, Representative Coach and Umpire Leader.
Her dedication to her wider community has been just as strong having been a member of the Tokoroa Borough Council committee during the 80s and Secretary of the Tokoroa Sports Advisory Council from 1976 to 1982.
Williamson has also lobbied the district council for improvements related to seniors and people with disabilities in the South Waikato region.
Meanwhile, with 40 years’ experience in the sport as either a player, manager, coach or administrator, NNZ Board Member Maxine Shortland (Ngāti Hine, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Porou) was also recognised for her services to the game and governance.
Shortland has served on numerous netball boards but is also a business leader with 25 years of governance and senior management experience – serving on several boards in the charitable, commercial and government sectors. She still chairs the Public Health Association of New Zealand and is director of Waitangi Limited.
Netball North, Kawakawa and the Whangārei Netball Centres have all been fortunate to have Shortland as a board member.