Our association provides competitive and social netball opportunities for all participants who want to play, umpire or coach, and welcome all ages and levels of experience and ability.

Our association values friendship, community spirit, teamwork and respect to all members – from our volunteers to our umpires and parents.

Our Volunteers and Life Members are active and engaged members in our organisation, and we are grateful and thankful for their outstanding contributions to the development of netball with us. Without their support we wouldn’t be able to do what we do!

Our Association

Our History

There is photographic evidence that netball was played in Tamworth in the 1930's at the Calrossy Anglican School.

It is acknowledged that netball was played under the name of Tamworth Women's Basketball in the mid 50's. The competition was for secondary school children and was run by Dorothy Lockwood as a young school teacher. Senior teams and school teams joined together in the early 60's with Christine Tongue as President in 1964. In the late 60's Tamworth adopted NSW's decision to change from Women's Basketball and was named Tamworth Netball Association and the first constitution was written and adopted.

Pat Weston was President for 5 years in the 70's and became Tamworth's 1st Life Member.

Joy Ware is acknowledged as encouraging and developing umpires in the early days.

Beryl Mooney (2nd Life Member) and Di Hall (President) invited more teams (15), after falling numbers, and in 1974 the Association moved to the playing fields at Riverside, sharing with Tamworth Hockey - proving dangerous at times as hockey balls came hurling across the netball courts.

Netball was moved to Cross Park, with no facilities (not even a toilet) and the hooter was run off a car battery. In 1977 the Association had 71 teams, 8 of these were from Manilla.

Tamworth sent teams to Sydney to compete in the Genevieve Shield. Travel was by overnight train and the girls arrived exhausted before they had even started playing! In 1978 the Association had 97 teams and competed at State Age, entering a 14yrs and 15yrs team. Uniforms were hand made by parents and officials-a white wrap-around skirt with black trim-representing the many magpies who swooped the players during the nesting season.

In 1979 the Association was moved to the site at Carter Street with 30 courts.

In 1981 (with Noelene Allen as President) Tamworth hosted State Age - the first time the Championships had ever been held outside the Sydney/Newcastle area. Those who attended still talk about the heat, flies and dust! Aaahh - we're from the country and we like it that way.

In 1982 the Association took part in the Country Music Festival Cavalcade and won the march past. We have continued our links with the Festival and, although a lot of hard work, it proves to be a great opportunity to raise much needed funds.

In 1982 (with Dorothy Lockwood as President) a proposal to build a clubhouse was put in place and completed in 1985. Funding was received from Sport, Leisure and Tourism. With a grant from the Dept. of Sport and Recreation, 6 hard courts with lighting were constructed.

In 1987 Tamworth entered teams in the Region 6 State League competition. The team were Runners-up to New England (as it was known then).

Beryl Mooney and Dorothy Lockwood were honoured locally by being presented with the Ken McKenzie Award for Services to Junior Sport.

Beryl Mooney, Dorothy Lockwood and Frances Smith have been honoured as recipients of the coveted Netball NSW Anne Clark Service Award - a very high honour indeed.

Dorothy Lockwood was recognised locally in 2009 - a worthy recipient of the NSW Premier's Community Service Award & Ken Lockwood was awarded an Honorary Life Membership for his tireless and continuous contribution to our Association.

In 2011 the next big step in developing our sport happened, with the construction of a new $9 million multi-purpose indoor complex, so we moved to our new home at the Tamworth Sports Dome with the support from Tamworth Regional Council, Federal Government and State Government our new site includes 4 timber and 3 synthetic indoor courts, 18 hardcourts, indoor seating for 500, multipurpose areas, office space and a café . This new complex will continue to provide excellent facilities for future generations of netballers.

LIFE MEMBERS. *(deceased)

Pat Weston*

Beryl Mooney*

Dorothy Lockwood*

Glenda Noble

Margaret Hallett

Val Tanner*

Frances Smith

Betty Dunn

Ruth Malone

Clare Dubois

Lynette O'Brien