It has been almost 12 months and I am still asking how and why I got myself into this position.
Then I remind myself to put the constant negatives and “not in the true spirit of sport “issues aside and look at what has and still can be achieved. I look at the joy on the young players faces and watch how much they have developed over the season. I see young mums, older mums, teenagers and young or older women coming through our gates, having the opportunity to play with friends, to make new friends and enjoy some time exercising together playing the game we love. That is why we are here, this is what we need to remember, this is what we need to work together for.
Make the experience worthwhile, make it enjoyable and we will thrive.
Looking back over 2022 we certainly achieved plenty. We successfully completed the season around all the continually changing COVID pandemic restrictions. We worked together to manoeuvre through last minute player, coach, umpire, and administrator withdrawals which was very pleasing. It was great that everyone could be understanding and cooperative to ensure games continued.
I would like to extend a special thank you to our Patron, Life member and 2nd Vice President Gloria Ingham who stepped in to assist at an executive level when no one else would put their hand up. Thanks Gloria your efforts, passion, and advice has all been invaluable during some tough times. To Kate Beaumont our Vice President, wow where would we have been this season without the hours and hours she contributed, from performing records officer duties, to canteen ordering and organising, to dealing with complaints issues, dealing with PlayHQ and all the issues in between, including assisting a very non tech savvy president on many, many occasions at all times of the day and night. She is amazing. Then there is our awesome Administration Officer Kelly Claughton. What a gem, get the job done with a minimal of fuss and with a smile and sometimes we even got it done with a giggle. Thanks Kelly, Good Job!!
Thank you to our life members, sponsors, players, coaches, managers, primary carers, umpires, parents, partners, supporters, volunteers, and administrators you have all made significant contributions that have made the 2022 season happen. Hopefully, we can all continue to work collaboratively to ensure the successful future of our game.
Special thanks to our generous sponsors with out who we would not be able to function at the level we do. Platinum: Diamond Sponsors: Ruby Sponsors: are all greatly appreciated, and we hope that we can continue the relationship. Also thank you to other sponsors who provided raffle prizes and discounts it is all greatly appreciated.
Please remember to support those who support us.
To all the club delegates thank you for your support, your time and effort is invaluable, we worked through a couple of difficult issues demonstrating we can take on anything if we pull together, take responsibility, and move forward willing to make change when required. Well done team
Emma Brewster Boston
Jeanette Scharfe Imperials
Karen Vukosavljevic Ravendale Storm
Tessa Rusden St Marys
Sarah Owen Wanilla
Disy Moseby Wayback
Gabby Leschen Umpire
That brings us to our working committees, to all those that willing gave their time to assist on these committees to ensure we run successfully, I say thank you.
Interim: Gloria, Kate, Sarah, and Gabby your support of all things PLNA was invaluable.
Cherine Pearson: and her complaints committee, job well done on several fronts this year especially in implementing the Grievance Policy Flowchart which worked successfully on several occasions.
Rebbecca Bruce: What a year to take on convenor of the carnival committee but she did it with aplomb and was amazing. The committee organised a huge McDonald Carnival early in the season and followed it with Pedler Cup. A massive commitment but we had so many positive, glowing remarks about how well we hosted it. Well done Bec and committee.
Lisa Taylor: for her work with her committee on fundraising and the major raffle.
Tara Lang: and her very patient committee helpers for running a successfully Net Set Go / Fun Net program that we were lucky enough to get Hannah Petty and Matilda Garrett from the Thunderbirds come to and present participants with their certificates.
Sarah Liebig who convened permits committee
Keith Paull: as convenor of grounds committee a massive thanks to you, all the hours of volunteer work you have provided to the court area this season has been so greatly appreciated, you have gone above and beyond, and the support of your committee members has seen much happen to assist in the upkeep of courts and surrounds and Saturday preparation.
Karen Vukosavljevic: as always never an easy task for grading committee but her and the committee performed their task with objectivity and professionalism which resulted in some very even competition and saw many teams really develop over the season. Well done
Emma Brewster: as umpire convenor and the club delegates well done getting umpire rosters organised.
Gabby Leschen umpire delegate and interim committee representative, and Sharon Tiller a big thank you for all the extra time you provided in allocating umpires your input was invaluable. Julie Williamson thank you for your continued support of our developing green shirt umpires and Gloria for her assistance with developing learning umpires. Thanks also to our dear Joan Lombe who volunteered in the umpire room for us which saved clubs having to fill an umpire room roster.
No umpires, no game, so we appreciate the work being done in this space by our umpiring group.
Thank you to our Canteen manager Toni Hanson who unfortunately was unable to complete the whole season, her efforts to get the canteen sorted while she was with us was appreciated.
Thankyou also to our cleaner Mel of Eyre Cleaning Bee for her efforts throughout the season.
In a snapshot
Jan:
What an initiation: manoeuvring way through PlayHQ, Future Directions, programming issues, NetballSA price hike, the demise of the Academy program for regional areas and the introduction of Thunderbird Academy.
Feb:
Summer Competition negotiated COVID and got finals played. The negotiations with NetballSA and other Eyre Peninsula association presidents re increased fees, affiliation, Academy continued.
Mar:
· Around COVID clubs tried to run trials and work out what grades they would fill. Excitement that St Marys were filling an A1R team, disappointment still only 4 teams in A1 and 15 Div1.
· Future Direction meeting with PLFL. Planning for a game with Football and Netball programmed together at Ravendale. Marble Range / Wanilla V Wayback.
April:
· Association trials and team announcements.
· Season began last weekend of school holidays rather than Anzac weekend. But still included an official opening which included recognition of Anzac. Grand Final rematch between Wayback and Wanilla and Anzac Medal was presented to Brooke Moore (Wayback)
· Future Direction meeting. Further plans for game between Wayback and Wanilla /Marble Range.
· Plan for gate entry being $2.00 to either netball or football if have already paid entry fee at one or have a pass.
May:
· Negotiated all things Covid
· Trial of Wayback V Wanilla and Wayback V Marble Range at Ravendale successful for netball. Needs more work.
· Lock Regional Carnival
Seniors: 3rd and Brooke Moore and Karli Sargent named in Top 10
17/U Winners
15/U Winners
13/U R/ Up
· Spencer Gulf
17/U enjoyed the experience. Had a few last-minute changes due to injury and illness
15/U Winners and Tylah Hollett BOC in G.F
13/U R/Up by narrowest of margin Charlotte Davidson B & F for Carnival
11/ U Winners and Ayala Woodstock Swaffer B & F for Carnival
· Clubs had to fill gate roster as we were unable to source gate keepers
Jun:
· Continued to negotiate Covid
· Country Champs
No seniors
17/U made quarter finals
15/U made quarter finals
13/U made semi - finals
· Julie Glass awarded B Umpiring Badge
July:
· Covid still causing a few curve balls
· Pedler Cup and Bec Bruce and her Carnival committee did an amazing job of organising as PLNA hosted this prestigious EP Carnival
· PLNA played the middle weekend of school holidays and there were many forfeits
· $2.00 gate entry plan started
· Shifted gate keeper box. This has been deemed successful.
August:
· Covid slowed up a little
· Canteen manager resigned. Kate and Kelly stepped up and then thankfully Aime Scheichl offered her services. A huge thank you to her for her time and efforts it was greatly appreciated.
· $2.00 gate entry plan continued until finals. Relatively successful for netball more concerned about hockey ticket saying get into netball for free.
· Finals began and Junior Presentation was held at Ravendale Clubrooms
September:
· Senior Presentation was held at Racecourse.
· Finals series was held, and a successful Grand Final day was held on Sept 10
· Netball forum held. A good turn up. Decision to create a Strategic planning committee. Plenty of interest in Netball / Football pass. Friday night games still needs a lot of work and research. Capping of number of teams to assist smaller clubs gain numbers (hopefully) was supported and will need to be introduced as a By Law if going ahead.
· Much work done on Constitution and By Laws by Kylie Petherick our Public Officer, executive, management, and clubs.
October:
· Bendigo Bank Grant for Playground upgrade was approved.
· Kate Beaumont was chosen as a finalist in the NetballSA Volunteer of the year award.
PLNA 2022 numbers
73 teams competed
Senior players: 209 registered
Junior players: 404 registered
Senior teams: 30
Junior teams: 43
Club Breakdown for interest’s sake:
Boston - 5 Seniors 8 Junior Teams
Imperials - 4 Senior 8 Junior Teams
Ravendale Storm - 4 Senior 4 Junior Teams
St Marys - 4 Senior 6 Junior Teams
Wanilla - 8 Senior 8 Junior Teams
Wayback - 5 Senior 9 Junior Teams
Junior Player numbers for interest’s sake:
9/Us Players 86
11/U's Players 91
13/U's Players 100
15/U's Players 80
Congratulations to all Premiership Winners and Best on Court players
Congratulations to trophy winners
Congratulations to Umpires who received badges all of which are mentioned in other sections of the annual report.
We continue to negotiate the court surface issue, the playground repair/ upgrade, extra shelter, and grant applications.
The forming of a Strategic planning committee I believe is a step toward ensuring a positive future for PLNA.
In closing I wish all clubs and the 2023 management committee along with the working committees all the best for the 2023 season and really hope that all can work hard at cooperating and collaborating in a positive manner to achieve the best results possible for our association.
Yours in Netball
Joanne Franklin
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