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The Association began in 1980
as the brainchild of four netball enthusiasts who moved into
the Ulladulla Region and were disappointed to find that
netball wasn't being played there. They placed an
advertisement in the local paper asking for players to
travel to Nowra each week and play in the Shoalhaven
competition. The response was staggering, they received
over 100 replies.
The inaugural meeting of the Ulladulla Netball Club was held
at the Milton Ulladulla Pre-School on the 3rd March 1980
with 23 girls in attendance. (During 1978/79 we had been
travelling to the Shoalhaven Netball Club to play.) From
this meeting we commenced our 1980 Winter Competition with
12 Senior teams and 5 Junior teams. Our committee
travelled to Nowra once a month for meetings.
After many meetings with Council, we were granted use of
grounds at Burrill Lake and we established 6 grass courts.
1980
We chose 3 Senior Representative teams and travelled to
carnivals. We continued to grow and during 1980/81 we
commenced our first Twilight Competition.
1981
We commenced proceedings to apply to New South Wales Netball
Association Credentials Committee to form our own
Association. After many written and personal
representations we were successful and Ulladulla and
Districts Netball Association was formed. During this time
we continued to take both Senior and Junior Representative
teams to carnivals in the Region and the Sydney Metropolitan
area.
1982
Saw us emerge as our own Association and therefore we were
eligible to attend the prestigious State and State Age
Championships. The next few years became a very busy time
for our Committee as we began to lobby Council for our own
grounds with asphalt courts and amenities block. Up to this
time we operated out of the back of cars and tents. Our
numbers continued to grow as did our determination to expose
our Juniors to top competition.
1984/85
We were successful in being granted land at West Ulladulla
and we applied for Sport and Recreation grants to try and
have asphalt courts laid.
After many meetings and recruiting lots of volunteer labour,
the ground was cleared and courts laid - we were on our way.
Bricks arrived, which we organised, and we had lots of
help ready to go. It was at this time that we seemed to
fall into a hole and everything slowed down. It was very
hard to sit back and watch as bricks disappeared and our
willing helpers lost interest due to the lack of progress -
we seemed to be tied up in some sort of red tape and nothing
happened.
However, during this time we continued to hold competitions
and apply for more grants. We also continued to organise
our teams to attend State and State Age Championships
throughout New South Wales. Each trip each year we used
local bus companies to transport us and we also took all our
supplies e.g. food, etc. for 50 people for 3 days from the
local district. Each year we also played host to teams
from within the region for a 1 day carnival.
1986
Since the inception of the Illawarra Academy of Sport,
which is a regional branch of the Institute of Sport in
Canberra, from 1986 we have had one or more representatives
chosen each year to train under State coaches and experience
top line competition in Sydney and overseas.
1990
Two floodlights were installed to light two courts and
electricity was connected to the amenities block, this
allowed us to train both club and Representative teams at
night, weather permitting.
1992
We saw the amenities block almost completed and nearly
all 12 courts surfaced. We still had a long way to go but
each year we became bigger and better. 20 seniors teams
playing in 3 grades and 17 Junior and Intermediate teams and
approximately 20 children playing in our Netta Netball
squad.
1995
We celebrated 15 Years of Netball, 1980-1995, at the
Milton-Ulladulla Bowling Club in the form of a Cocktail
Party with three inaugural members being recognised for
their contribution to the Association, by being inducated as
Life Members namely, Sue Hensley, Faye Puglisi and Kay
Hodge.
During 1995 to 2000 was a difficult period in the history of
the Association as numbers dwindled due to the introduction
of the Indoor Sports Centre in Ulladulla. Saturday
competition continued and a strong band of committee members
continued to strive to make Netball a high profile sport in
the area. Representative teams continued to attend State
and State Age Championships despite numbers falling in the
local competition.
1997
The introduction of the Mary Baxter Memorial Award as
recognition of the 'Association Member of the Year'.
1999
The introduction of the J. R. Jewellers Trophy - 'Achiever
of the Year'.
2000
In 2000 a development program was introduced to
encourage junior players to participate in Netball, and as a
result of this program, junior numbers increased over the
next 5 years and the Senior competition has been
reintroduced.
Two members were recognised for their contribution to the
Association, Rhonda Swindale and Margaret Callan and were
inducted as Life Members.
2002
Three members were recognised for their contribution to
the Association, Norma Lowe, Julie Patterson and Robin
Butler and were inducted as Life Members.
Since the inception of the Gilmore Sportswoman and Sportsman
Awards in 2002 we have had numerous committee members,
coaches, administrators, coaches, umpires, etc. nominated
and recognised for their contribution to Netball.
2004
During 2004 we were relocated within the Ulladulla
Sports Park, (formerly West Ulladulla Sporting Complex) and
whilst our six flexipave courts were laid, fenced and
outdoor lights installed, the Association utilised the
Ulladulla Indoor Cricket Centre for their Saturday
Competition while construction was being completed.
Two members were recognised for their contribution to the
Association, Ann Pomfret and Sue Chismon and were inducted
as Life Members.
2005
A new amenities block, brick storage shed and an outdoor
covered area continued to be constructed close to the new
courts which were used for the first time for the Winter
Competition. The Committee and Canteen continued to work
from the old amenities building.
We celebrated 25 Years of Netball, 1980-2005, combined with
the Senior Presentation on the 17th September, 2005 at the
Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club.
"U.D.N.A. Service Award" was introduced and presented to Kay
Hodge for her "25 Years Dedication to the Association".
On the 5th November, 2005 at the Netball New South Wales AGM
Dinner Kay Hodge was one of five recipients who was awarded
Netball's most prestigious award - "The
Anne Clark Service Award".
The Association introduced an Over 35 Representative team as
a result of the players dedication to the game of
Netball.
2006
The Association's first club was formed, namely WAVES.
On Friday 23rd June, 2006 Life Member, Kay Hodge, was
officially awarded the honour of South Coast Electorate
Woman of the Year by Member for South Coast Shelley
Hancock.
The State Age Championships held June 30th at Lakeside our
13 Years Representative Team achieved Runners-up.
On the 29th July Taara McDonald, 14 years of age and the
youngest umpire in our Association to achieve an Umpires
National 'C' Badge.
Our new Netball Complex at Ulladulla Sports Park was
officially
opened by Shoalhaven
City Mayor Clr. Greg Watson on Sunday 20th August, 2006 with
approximately well over 240 people witnessing this momentous
occasion plus a Junior/Intermediate "Gala Fun Day" saw teams
travelling from Dapto, Southern Suburbs, Tuross &
Shoalhaven.
U.D.N.A. Service Awards were
presented on Sunday 10th September, 2006 to Rhonda Swindale
"23 years" and Norma Lowe "20 years" for their Dedication to
the Association.
On the 4th November, 2006 at
the Netball New South Wales AGM Dinner Rhonda Swindale was
one of five recipients who was awarded Netball's most
prestigious award - "The Anne Clark Service Award".
2007
Will see the introduction of our second club, FLAMES and
provision for clubs to oversee all players draws closer.
With Netball becoming such a high profile sport, the
Ulladulla & Districts Netball Association Inc. looks
forward to expanding and achieving greater heights in the
coming years.
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