Netball club founder receives life membership
TKT Ocean Beach Netball Club foundation committee member Ms Joanne Ely has been awarded life membership of the Woy Woy Peninsula Netball Association, on her retirement as club president this year.
Ms Ely was on the original committee which established the club 25 years ago, with Ms Jane Kearns as the inaugural president.
Ms Ely became president in 2008, serving in this role for 15 years.
This year she hands the reins to new club president Ms Michelle Giaquinto.
"Joanne has been honoured by an acceptance as Life Member of the Woy Woy Peninsula Netball Association," said Ms Giaquinto.
"It is a fitting and well-deserved reward and acknowledgement for her outstanding service to local community through her volunteer roles with TKT Ocean Beach Netball Club and the association."
Ms Giaquinto said Ms Ely had received the Margaret Thoms Award in 2019 for her dedication, commitment and contribution to the promotion and betterment of netball.
She said she had helped build the small grassroots club from six to 14 teams, supporting hundreds of girls to be part of a team, to be active, to make friends and enjoy playing the sport.
Ms Giaquinto said: "TKT Ocean Beach Netball Club originated after a decision to break away from an existing club to develop more competition within the Woy Woy Peninsula Netball Association back in 1998.
"The club called itself TKT, or Te Kotahitanga, a Maori phrase, meaning 'we are one in unity' or 'unity in self-determination', a fitting name for a community sporting club.
"Later the addition of Ocean Beach was added as a connection to the local region."
The club is currently taking registrations for the 2023 winter competition.
"We welcome new and returning players of all ages from Net Set Go through to Seniors."
A registration day will be held at 53 Breeze St, Umina, between 10am and 2pm on Saturday, February 18.
SOURCE:
Media release, 30 Jan 2023
Michelle Giaquinto, TKT Ocean Beach Netball Club