In front of over 400 guests, a record for a Netball NSW State Dinner, NSW Swifts premiership player and 2009 Player’s Player, Kimberley Smith was announced as the winner of the “Marilyn Melhuish NSW Swifts Player of the Year”.
Celebrating the success of Netball NSW from grass roots to the elite level not to mention celebrating Netball NSW’s 80th Anniversary, a who’s who attended the gala function hosted by Anne Sargeant at the Anne Clark Centre, the home of Netball NSW.
The evening was a celebration of past, current and future talent with special mentions for our NSW State Teams 17s, 19s and 21s and an acknowledgement of the contribution made by umpires, coaches, administrators and volunteers in season 2009.
An array of awards were presented on the night with the main ones including the Marilyn Melhuish NSW Swifts Player of the Year, the Marj Groves Scholarship, Anne Clark Service Award, the Judy Dunbar Media Awards and new inductees into the Hall of Fame.
NSW Swifts Player’s Player Award winner, Kimberley Smith capped off a stellar personal season on the court when she was named the “Marilyn Melhuish NSW Swifts Player of the Year”. Voted on by a panel of selectors, points were awarded for on court performance during home and away games of the ANZ Championship.
The theme of the evening was the celebration of Netball NSW’s 80th Anniversary. To commemorate the evening, an extensive historical display was on show for all to see, capturing the essence of netball at all levels over the past 80 years.
Netball NSW would like to congratulate the following award winners:
2009 Hall of Fame Inductees
Lois Green
Margaret Morris
2009 Marilyn Melhuish NSW Swifts Player of the Year
Kimberley Smith – Sutherland Shire Netball Association
2009 Marj Groves Scholarship
Nicola Gray – Manly-Warringah Netball Association
2009 Anne Clark Service Awards
Joy Grogan – Westlakes District Netball Association
Noni Greentree – Manly Warringah Netball Association
Robin Butler – Ulladulla and Districts Netball Association
Kevin Smith – Newcastle Netball Association
June & Norm Rogers – Illawarra District Netball Association
2009 DOOLEYS State League Player of the Year – “The Nance Kenny Medal”
Kelly Adamson – Hunter and Central Coast United
2009 Judy Dunbar Media Awards
Best Overall Coverage – James Buckley – Queanbeyan Age
Best Feature Article – Kelly Robinson – Manly Daily, “Game On”
Best Photo – Brad Hunter –Northern District Times
2009 Neita Matthews Umpiring Award
Tara Warner – Fairfield City Netball Association
2009 Margaret Corbett DOOLEYS State League Coach of the Year
Jenny O’Keefe – Manly-Warringah Netball Association
