It takes a community to raise our young ones. That’s the message from netball volunteer Jenny Corbett.
Jenny is currently on the Netball South Canterbury Officials Committee and an Umpire Coach and Centre Assessor – giving hours each week to the Centre and the umpires involved.
But Jenny’s story and reasons for volunteering are in her DNA. Many years ago, she recognised the importance of community support for children's activities and decided to contribute actively to ensure there were vibrant opportunities for youth.
Her motivation stems partly from wanting her children to experience everything their local community could offer.
“I started volunteering as we lived rurally, I thought if we want sport and social clubs to survive for all children in the now and future, I have to do my bit to make it happen,” says Jenny.
You name the organisation – Jenny has been involved! As a chairman, secretary, event organiser or as a treasurer - Young Farmers Club, Taranaki Sharemilkers Association, Okato Rugby Club, Okato Athletics Club, Girl Guides, swimming, Parent Teacher Committees. And then there’s netball.
“When it came to netball I started volunteering when my eldest daughter started playing. I coached futureFERNS in Southern Hawkes Bay for a season then moved back to Taranaki to a coastal town of Okato where I co-coached a Year 8 team.”
In 1998, Jenny moved to the Hurunui District in North Canterbury and became much more involved in the game. During the nine years in the district, she went from club captain of the local club to president of the Hurunui Netball Centre.
She then moved to South Canterbury and with her youngest daughter at Saint Kevins Secondary School, she became involved with school netball and the North Otago Netball Committee.
“I kept umpiring and encouraging the younger umpires, becoming the Court Custodian. In 2012, we retired from dairy farming and moved to Timaru where I have been involved ever since. Starting with umpiring, and then coaching and now assessing.
“The proud moments for me in netball are when I see the quiet, low-confidence girl grow as she realises that she can umpire and do it to the best of her ability. I love to see her go on and achieve the awards that go with it,” Jenny says.
Centre Manager Vicki McKnight says Jenny gives her heart and soul to South Canterbury Netball.
“She makes her yummy pumpkin soup for the umpires, volunteers and staff who spend all day at netball on a Saturday. She has a lovely happy disposition and looks out for all our young umpires.”
Jenny received a Service Award at the Netball South Canterbury AGM earlier this year.
To see all the Woolworths futureFERNS resources available for netball teams Year 1-8, check out the futureFERNS website
If you are interested in becoming a netball volunteer, you can register your interest here and we will connect you with your local Netball Centre.