Top honour for Ronnie Wilkins

Moteuka's Ronnie Wilkins has received one of New Zealand's top netball awards.

Wilkins is one of four national recipients of the Netball New Zealand Service Award, recognising individuals who have made a significant contribution to netball at a local, regional, national or international level.

Also receiving the award were Marlborough Netball Centre life member and former Netball Tasman board member Jan Gallop, Manawatu's Linda Liggins, and Auckland-Waitakere's Lyn Pellow.

Wilkins, who recently received the award on her 61st birthday, said it was an honour for a small association like Motueka to earn some national recognition.

Motueka's Ruby Aberhart was similarly honoured 20 years ago, followed by Nelson's Nita Hornbrook in 1993.

"I just think it's a huge thing to be recognised at grassroots [level] because normally you would [need to] be on the national scene to be, perhaps, looked at for these awards, and a New Zealand award is huge here for Motueka," she said.

Wilkins started playing netball in Motueka in 1959 and was a foundation member of the Riwaka Old Girls club 40 years ago.

She has held numerous positions with the Motueka Netball Association, including treasurer, secretary, vice-president and president.

Wilkins is currently in her third year as president of the Motueka Netball Centre.

A qualified umpire, Wilkins has also had extensive coaching experience over the past 37 years at school, club and representative level with numerous Motueka-based teams, accumulating several New Zealand qualifications along the way.

"This award carries huge qualifying criteria in recognition of continuous service to the game of netball as an administrator and as a coach," she said.

"I feel privileged to have been nominated and have now become a recipient of this prestigious award and that Motueka is part of New Zealand netball history."

- © Fairfax NZ News