Founded on 19th September, 1971
The
Formation:
“To set
the cause above renown,
To love the game beyond the prize"
Sir
Henry Newbolt
Sir
Henry Newbolt’s words epitomize the drive behind the formation of the Brisbane
Netball Association. However, it would
not be an understatement to record that the Brisbane Netball Association
evolved from a revolution.
Prior
to the formation of the Brisbane Netball Association in 1971, Downey Park,
Windsor, was the only centre for netball in Brisbane and fixtures were
controlled by the Queensland Netball Association (QNA).
While
the ladies who administered the QNA may have had the best of intentions, their goals
did not include development of facilities, playing standards or coaching or
umpiring programmes.
Besides
running fixtures, QNA selected State teams to compete in All Australia interstate
titles although on many occasions, the State team travelled without a coach or
umpire.
At Downey Park, all
games were centrally timed without any injury time and due to overcrowding, games
were shortened to 4 x 10 minutes or 2 x 20 minutes and fixture times were only available for two weeks at a
time.
It had been obvious for years that Downey Park could not cater for the existing
number of netballers let alone future development, but decentralisation was not
on the QNA’s agenda.
The
adjustment required for the players at interstate level was overwhelming.
This
was the environment for a series of events.
Lorraine
Decker was a State and All Australia schoolgirls player who advanced through
the ranks to be a senior state player from 1964 to ‘70. After seeing the facilities in Perth at the
1967 World Netball Titles she was inspired to emulate them in Queensland.
Di
Potter was also a state representative and was frustrated by the Queensland
team’s poor performances due to lack of coaching, playing facilities and administrative
support.
Irene
Timothy played ‘A’ Grade in Victoria and in NSW which led to her coaching the
NSW State Team. When she and her husband were transferred to Brisbane in 1968, QNA
immediately co-opted her to coach the Queensland state team. Irene was incredulous
when told that although she was the state coach, she could not wear a Queensland
state blazer at the interstate titles because she was not a Queensland state player
and had not earned the right!
It
was therefore natural that these three and other members of the state team
formed an alliance. They were given strong
support by swimming coach icon, Joe King (now decd), who coached Goldwings Netball
Club (the premier club of the time) and whose players dominated the state team.
They
questioned the QNA’s administration and ideals and why the sport could not be
de-centralized and why facilities and coaching programmes were not provided. The
group called for ‘radical’ improvements some of which included all weather
courts, quality floodlighting, first class amenities and an indoor
stadium. QNA responded by stonewalling
every approach and claimed that nothing could be done as there was no
money.
This
led to volatile times with the disbursement and management of the QNA’s
finances under scrutiny. It did not seem unreasonable to expect audited accountability
and a professional administration which had development plans.
‘The
Rebels’ tried for 12 months to change and improve all facets of the QNA from
within its framework without success. Unfortunately, the minutes of meetings with the QNA were often
‘adjusted’ to protect the QNA’s position and did not reflect agreements which
had been reached. Consequently, ‘The
Rebels’ distributed pamphlets to players at Downey Park calling on them to question
the disbursement of finances and lack of facilities.
This
drew an overwhelming response with the main identities being former state
player and president of Ace Netball Club, Sandra Bates, the president of
Norths Netball Club, Merle Kimmins and the University Club which
was led by Mary Hawkins. Goldwings nominated Thelma Gordon to represent
them and Jacki Black, the PE head at Kelvin Grove Teachers Training College,
put their weight behind the cause as did Souths Club for which Irene, Di
and Lorraine played.
A
sizeable contingent attended the QNA’s 1971 AGM believing that the weight of
their numbers would force the QNA to ‘come screaming into the 20th century’ and
this meeting proved to be the turning point. While it is now amusing to note
that the Queensland Netball Association refused to provide a financial report
to its members, stating that it was not their policy, it was frustrating and
provocative at the time and the group were further frustrated when, half-way
through the AGM, members were denied voting rights and subsequently speaking
rights by the chair, QNA President, Mavis Martin.
This
resulted in our foundation members seeking legal advice and the ‘group’ was
indebted to the Decker family’s contacts which resulted in the free advice
provided from solicitor, Graham Gill (now decd.) and by Queensland’s most
celebrated judge, Mr. Tony Fitzgerald QC who provided his invaluable opinion at
no cost.
As
a result of Mr. Fitzgerald’s opinion and advice, our foundation members considered
three alternatives:-
1.
To maintain membership of the Q.N.A. and
thereby accept the system with no ability to effect any improvement
2.
To opt out (upon reflection
this would have been by far the easiest but far less satisfying)
3.
To form a new association in which their
ideals, ideas and aspirations for the sport could be implemented.
Fortunately,
our founders opted for the third alternative.
A
formation meeting was held at the Queensland Swimming Association’s rooms at
the Valley Swimming Pool on 19th September 1971 and the Brisbane Netball
Association was born.
The
first Executive was:-
President: Merle
Kimmins
Vice
Presidents: Sandra Bates & Lorraine Decker
Hon
Secretary: Mary Hawkins
Treasurer: Irene Timothy
Games
Convenors: Di Potter &
Elizabeth Hatton
Publicity
Officer: Lorraine Decker
The
Trustees were Thelma Gordon and Jacki Black with Kerry Potter (Di Potter’s husband)
as Hon. Auditor and Graham Gill as Hon. Solicitor.
The
Association’s colour was determined as Poinsettia Red and the Poinsettia flower
as the Association’s floral emblem.
Seven
of the original members, Merle Kimmins, Sandra Bates, Lorraine Decker, Mary
Hawkins, Irene Timothy, Di Potter and Thelma Gordon each contributed $1.00 to
establish a bank account in the name of the ‘Brisbane Netball Association’. From this humble $7 the BNA has never looked
back financially.
Naturally
the structure of the Association and accountability to its members were
extremely important. Constitutions from
every conceivable sporting body were studied and the best aspects used for the
BNA’s first constitution. This ensured
that our foundation executive became ‘authorities’ on constitutional matters.
The founders also established important goals
- that the optimum size of the Association should
be planned so that quantity would not be substituted for quality
- that the quality of fixture games should never
be compromised by reducing playing time
To ensure the equable conduct of the Association, the founders
also initiated a Complaints Tribunal which was a unique initiative in
netball and a cornerstone of the values of BNA as it provided members with
access to natural justice through an independent arbiter.
Initially,
the formation of the association was the easy part - the real work had
only just started.