A selection of South Australia’s best coaches, umpires and volunteers have been recognised by their communities for their invaluable contribution to the game they love.
This week, Netball SA is revealing the finalists across five categories before the winners are crowed at the inaugural 2021 Netball SA Awards on Friday, September 24.
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Nominations from across the state came flooding in this month for the Volunteer Achievement Award (Country and Metro), Coach of the Year (Performance Development), Coach of the Year (Community) and Umpire of the Year (Community).
Last week, the Netball SA Awards Panel - chaired by the General Manager of Netball Erin Haines and consisting of one Netball SA Board representative and two sponsor representatives - convened to review all nominations against the criteria and shortlisted the finalists.
Read the finalists for the Volunteer Achievement Award HERE and Coach of the Year HERE.
Below are the finalists for the Fruchocs Umpire of the Year (Community) Award:
Fruchocs Umpire of the Year (Community)
Debbie Green – Hills Netball Association/Uraidla Netball Club
- Debbie has been involved in the umpiring fraternity for many years within her local community in Uraidla in the Hills Netball Association
- Throughout Debbie’s career as an umpire, she has umpired at various levels including both Netball SA’s State Premier League and AMND competitions
- Debbie’s commitment and service to umpires within her local netball and wider netball community should be commended.
- Debbie is a wonderful ally for all new umpires, she is always encouraging and supportive and brings the FUN into the game
Shelley Hier – Yorke Peninsula Association/Moonta Netball Club
- Shelley Hier is an accredited B badge umpire and has played a major part in various roles within the Moonta Netball Club and also at an association level for many years
- Each and every week she puts in tremendous effort to umpire, specifically the A grade which is the highest level of competition within the Yorke Peninsula Netball Association
- She has also been the club representative at an association level and umpired many finals both senior and junior over the years
- Shelley is well respected by not only Moonta Netball Club and its players but also many in the association
Mel Ryan – SA Districts Netball Association/Strikers Netball Club
- With Strikers being a relatively new club, Mel took on the role as Umpire coordinator and in one year the club has grown from two teams to over 20 teams
- She has single-handedly recruited juniors and all interested members and started an umpiring program to ensure the club has enough umpires capable of umpiring all games
- Mel always put her hand up to assist anyone, but it is clear her passion is in umpiring, spending four nights a week mentoring and guiding up and coming talent and the club’s future umpires
- Mel umpires at state indoor level and is badged to umpire A grade games. She is also helping out more experienced umpires to obtain their C badging
