Netball Kapiti's best kept secret can now be revealed!  

Netball Kapiti is very pleased to announce that a Netball New Zealand Service Award has been awarded to Nancy Lewin. Nancy is Netball Kapiti’s first recipient of a Netball New Zealand Service Award.The Netball New Zealand Service Award was conferred on Nancy Lewin at the 2009 Netball New Zealand Council Meeting, but unfortunately due to being overseas Nancy was unable to be presented with it then. Instead, and in total secrecy, the honour was awarded to Nancy at Netball Kapiti’s AGM on March 30 by Netball New Zealand Life Member Christine Archer.

The Netball New Zealand Service Award has been awarded to Nancy Lewin in recognition of over 33 years of her continuous service to netball. During this time she has been a Board Member, Representative team manager, fundraiser extraordinaire, Umpire trainer and mentor, Representative Delegate, Publicity Officer, Secondary School Delegate, Umpire/Draw Appointment Officer and Canteen Manager. 

As can be seen from above Nancy has had many jobs and titles at Netball Kapiti, she attended the inaugural meeting of the Golden Coast Netball Club in March 1976 and contributed significantly to the commencement of netball competitions on the Kapiti Coast.  Nancy operated the first canteen for netball in our area, it started being run off school desks and then was installed in a donated tin-shed in 1977.  Due to her outstanding talents with fundraising she has had a large part to play in the establishing of the current courts, pavilion and flood lighting for Kapiti Netball at Te Atiawa Park, Paraparaumu Beach.  The 1982 Pavilion with its kitchen displaced the tin shed canteen providing Nancy with a better venue for the canteen and thus generating even more significant funds for the Association.

Nancy has always been a very strong supporter of developing and mentoring our Umpires, she has willingly shared her wealth of experience with all and has actively encouraged many in their umpiring.  She has provided Umpiring classes for all but has in particular mentored many, many College students, meeting with them at their colleges to aid them in their understanding and appreciation of umpiring.  At all times she has given very generously of her time and enthusiasm.  She has and remains ever present at our courts every Saturday.

At all times and in all her endeavours for netball Nancy has without doubt shown great levels of commitment and determination.  The quality of her contributions simply cannot be quantified and netball on the Kapiti Coast and Wellington Region is definitely the better for her long involvement with our game. She is very deserving of a Netball New Zealand Service Award.

We congratulate Nancy on her award and also thank Netball New Zealand Life Member Christine Archer for presenting the award to Nancy at our AGM and for her part in keeping it a secret.