Change aplenty on netball scene

There are fresh faces aplenty at the top of Marlborough Netball in 2022.

A new-look board is in place, along with two part-time staff, both relative newcomers to the region.

Bridget Nicholls and Emma Ryan will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the sport, forming a “trans-Tasman team” based at the newly-opened Lansdowne Park Hub.

Bridget, who is employed for 30 hours each week, is Marlborough Netball’s competition co-ordinator, responsible for organising competitions, facilitating draws, plus coach development and school visits designed to increase participation numbers.

Born-and-raised in the Waikato area, Bridget has played and coached netball most of her adult life.

She came to Marlborough during lockdown to join her partner, who works here. After initially finding work in the vineyards she saw Marlborough Netball’s ad and thought “this sounds like me”.

“The flexibility of hours, plus the coach development side of things appealed most,” recalled Bridget.

Despite being immediately greeted by floods when she first arrived in “the sunniest place in New Zealand”, Bridget has relished getting to know the local scene and sampling the attractions of the province.

“I love it down here. Everyone has been nice and welcoming.”

She has entered the local netball scene with a completely open mind and a fresh perspective, a situation that she feels has both positive and negative effects.

“I can bring in new ideas and won’t be influenced by what has happened in the past,” she explained, “but on the other hand I don’t have the history of the players, so it is going to take me a season to fully understand what is working and what is not working.

“Hopefully, I can bring some fresh thinking, plus some structure and support to coaches, umpires and schools. They are my main focus.”

Emma, born in Adelaide, South Australia, has also played netball most of her life.

She spent the past five years in Clare Valley, a renowned winemaking region in South Australia, winning three premierships as a midcourter. She has been immersed in the health and fitness scene for many years and brings a wealth of experience and energy to the Marlborough Netball administrator’s role.

Emma, employed for 20 hours a week, is married to a Kiwi originally from Tauranga. The pair have a two-year-old daughter named Poppie, with another on the way.

Her partner, who works in the wine industry, wanted to return to his homeland so they crossed the ditch on holiday and scouted for a possible location, Blenheim getting the nod over Cromwell.

“There was just a good vibe when we came here to have a look around,” explained Emma, who shifted here 12 months ago immediately after coming out of MIQ.

Now both have work in Marlborough, with Emma excited by the opportunity to help facilitate a vibrant netball scene.

Since she and Bridget began their jobs in October, their workplace has moved, shifting from the former administration building on the edge of the Lansdowne Park car park to the new Lansdowne Hub building, which overlooks both the netball courts and the main rugby ground.

Both are enjoying their new surroundings, and rubbing shoulders with their rugby counterparts, plus Sport Tasman staff.

“I think it is already a big change for the community,” said Bridget. “We have all gelled really well [in the new combined office space] … it helps that we have similar senses of humour.

“We were originally meant to be moving in [to the Hub] soon after we started in October, but we are here now and it has definitely been worth the wait.”

While Bridget and Emma are the most visible new faces at Marlborough Netball, there are several newcomers on the 2022 board, which was finalised on Friday.

Rachel Tau’alupe will continue as chair, after stepping in last year for the departing Beth Tester. Mikayla Avant has taken the role of deputy chair and Shana Pinker is the new treasurer. The other board members are Helen McLauchlan, Sally King, Brenda Chilvers and Paige Lovell.

“It is onward and upwards now,” added Bridget. “[The board] are all positive and excited for the season. We have fresh faces, the fresh Hub and fresh staff … we are doing all we can to make netball successful and accessible.”