Seventy-three years ago, Patsy Tainui was 12 years old and playing her first season of netball.

Fast forward from 1938 to 2023. This month at Ngā Puna Wai, Patsy played a very special part as Christchurch Netball’s new home and whare was blessed on Friday 3 November. Alongside General Manager Tom Houghton, Patsy helped return the sod from CNC’s South Hagley Park site to the brand new indoor site in the southwest of the city.
 

Given Patsy’s green thumb and true love of gardening, Tom commented that no one would have been more perfect for the part.

Her netball resume is impressive. Patsy was a New Zealand umpire, selected for several national tournaments. She sat the New Zealand practical umpiring exam and scored in the top of New Zealand.

Patsy recalls cycling all winter from Burnside to Hagley Park to her games on the outdoor courts (and home again after).

 What does Patsy think of the new facility?

“We will see more children taking up netball,” she predicts. Patsy also admitted that given the gorgeous new sheltered space, next winter she may come along for a few games.

This much-loved life member of Christchurch Netball Centre has shared reflections on a lifetime of netball – with many, many laughs along the way.

The Creek!

We persuaded the CCC to move the creek so we could get rid of the grass courts. We did have to pay for this operation and also had to plant over 100 trees. It was a good result and we had all our courts together.

Fundraising

In the fundraising drive I worked with the fundraiser and set up appointments for him to approach different businesses in Christchurch to let them know what we were doing and to smooth the way for the asking of donations.

Dedication from a small group of determined ladies

Maire Erickson always said that it was a mammoth effort by a bunch of volunteer housewives. It was as we were not used to asking for money for a woman’s sport and in those days it was not well received in some quarters. On the other hand we did have tremendous support from lots of people.

Not everyone in Netball circles was on board for the whole operation but we proved that we could do it and we did.

Cancellations – Always controversial!

I can remember being up at 5.00am on Saturday mornings when I was Draw Steward checking out the weather/ We had to make an early announcement if we had to cancel. Believe me we never got it right according to the clubs. I would be on the phone to Maire and she would give a weather forecast from Brighton and I would add the North West one. 

When frost was forecast Alan Read the then groundsman would spread salt on the courts so they weren’t too slippery. Wasn’t good for the court surfaces but something had to be done.

Catering to young netballers

Maire and I decided to start Kiwi Netball early on Saturday Mornings for the young players.  They had skill sessions but of course all wanted to play and win which of course was not the objective. Then I started Kiwi Whistlers which we started before the first games having a new rule every day. They were very committed and did a good job; I just kept an eye on them so parents didn’t scream at them.

Sideline umpiring

Sue Morton was a defence and her husband would stand behind the goal post and every time she was defending he would throw a three foot stick down for the umpires benefit. Hard case times!

Not quite so funny at the time!

I was umpiring South Brighton v St Nicholas when my skirt fell off. Imagine in those days we wore pantyhose!!!! All the play stopped and the players clapped. I bent down picked up my skirt to put it back on and I had it inside out so had to take it off again to put it on correctly this to all the players clapping and whistling. That incident made the morning paper. No pictures.

Always have someone to keep an eye on your kids

I was playing in a social grade when my daughter appeared on the sideline dripping wet with weed hanging off her. 'I feellll in the creek Mum!!!' The umpire stopped the game so I could go to the car and gets a blanket for her, and then we resumed the game.

The Café (sweet shop!)

The sweet shop in the old and new pavilion was a big drawcard and made us some good money. The Yates (when retired) pouring cups of tea being bought by the players.

Radio coverage

When I was doing Newstalk ZB the sun was always shining at Hagley Park. I did ads for the Senior games to be played the following week which was fun.  People would listen to get the info on games to be played that week. We had really good coverage in those days and the results were broadcast after the last game. For years after I still had people talking to me about the ZB netball reports.

Draws

I bought myself a word processor after I took on the job of Umpire Allocator and Draw Steward from Lyn Miles (who did a tremendous job for Netball). As I was working full time then I would stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning to get the allocation done with its constant changes.

Uniforms

The Flames were getting a new uniform. Maire picked a pink colour which she said was a derivative of red to get around the fact it wasn’t red and we were a Canterbury red and black team. Some people moaned !!!!

The people/the volunteers

All the women who worked for Netball on a volunteer basis were a marvellous bunch and hard working.

Article added: Sunday 12 November 2023