Wollondilly Netball Association was formed in 1973 by Mrs Val Ramsay who took the one team, known as Tahmoor District Girls Netball Club, across Razorback Mountain to play in the Camden Association’s competition. After experiencing this (then) often dangerous crossing for some time, Mrs Ramsay approached Wollondilly Council for some land in the area. An unused patch of ground was allocated and Mrs Ramsay made do with it for the sake of the girls.

 

1n 1975 the association moved across the road to Tahmoor Sportsground. This precious piece of land was shared with the cricket club, so at the end of the season goal posts were removed and then re-concreted in before the next season commenced.

 

Remember when??...We all indulged in re-marking those lines with paint brushes, cut the grass with three or four mowers, and raked to our little hearts content! “Woking bees” they were called – a far cry from what we have to do today. There were enough members registered in 1976 to form about six teams or so – you just came along in your shorts and t-shirt and were placed in a team, grabbed a poor bystander to umpire and away you went.

 

The association has come a long way since those days – we have seen many good umpires, workers, executives, players and coaches come and go, but never forgotten. Wollondilly was granted affiliation with NSW in 1984.

 

Our grounds now have ten grass courts and two sealed courts constructed with the assistance of a $25,000 grant from the Department of Sport and Recreation and a similar amount from Council. The two sealed courts cost $31,700 and the balance of the $50,000 is to be used to develop sporting fields for other sports. The Netball Association has no power, no facilities other than two toilets. The association pays $4 per head, per year to the Tahmoor Sportsground Committee, a cleaning bond of $75 per year and pays $175 per season to hire the grounds.

Seven clubs ranging from two to thirteen teams participated in our competition in 1988, a total of some 500 members played each Saturday morning. Life membership of the association has been bestowed upon Val Ramsay, Kay Small and Kathy Davidson for their outstanding contributions to netball in the area. The association has appointed three patrons – Eileen Kelsell, Doreen Cheetham and Peter Webeck.

Players enjoy the services of four badged umpires – Kathy Davidson who was awarded her “B” grade badge in 1969, Dianne Firth, Judy Armstrong and Robyn Pulbrook all gained their “C” grade badges. 

Written sometime between 1987-1991

Addition:

In 2012 the netball court see 6 asphalt courts, lighting, a canteen, storage and toilet facility that community users have access to part of these. A number of B and C badged umpires (I will work on getting names and dates of awarding for you…) and we currently have 573 registered members of our association.