It is a remarkable milestone for the Maitland Netball Association

volunteers, and one that was recognised by Netball NSW at its 80th anniversary dinner in Wollongong recently.

It was there, coinciding with the NSW State Championships, that 12 of the State’s longest serving volunteers – including Maitland quartet Barbara Bird, Shirley Scholes, Freda Witherspoon and Noeline Boyce – were awarded for their time and effort.

All four are life members of the Maitland Netball Association and their respective clubs. All have played, coached and taken on almost every administrative role imaginable.

But last Saturday they were applauded at a State level for their passion and commitment to the sport on and off the court and the main selection criteria – involvement in netball for 55 years or more.

And for these ladies, most of that time, including many a Saturday afternoon in winter, has been spent at the netball courts at Maitland Park.

In particular, Witherspoon, who still plays in Maitland with Bradmill – a team she was an inaugural member of in 1952.

And she continues to umpire.

It was an achievement noted by the 80th anniversary dinner MC Anne Sergeant, who asked the crowd to charge their glasses and toast Witherspoon’s incredible 57-year knock.

“I lot of work goes into it over 50 years,” Witherspoon, also a life member at Kurri Kurri Netball Association, said.

“But I like the team sport and the friendships you make over the years.”

It is these friendships that have kept Scholes – now an umpire and umpire coach – in the game.

“It has been my life and kept me sane,” Scholes said.

“It has helped me come though, all my friends over there (at netball).”

For Boyce, involved with RSL, and Bird, linked with Beresfield, it was the second time they have been acknowledged at a State netball level.

This latest award will sit along side the Anne Clark Service Award that Boyce (1997) and Bird (2001) have both received.