Les Preedy was recognised for his 27 years of commitment and service to netball with Life Membership of Netball WA – Joining Netball WA’s 100 Life Members.
Mr Preedy has held committee positions at Winthrop Netball Club, Fremantle Netball Association and Coastal Sharks and has officiated in more than 500 games as a bench official.
Among many of his accomplishments are the Sports Industry Coach and Officials Award in 2014, 2018 Bench Official of the Year Award and in 2022 he was awarded the Bench Official Medal.
He has also supported Netball WA by volunteering over numerous years at GIG WANL, State & Academy Cup, Metro League, National Competitions held in Perth and other Netball WA Carnivals.
Rosemairy Ovenden was awarded the Service to Sport Award which acknowledges the tireless and long-standing commitment to the sport of netball for a very worthy recipient.
Ms Ovenden has been a player and volunteer since the 1960s and has been honoured with life membership of WA Catholic Netball, Australasian Catholic Netball, Perth Netball Association, Perth Bullets/Lions Netball Region and Western Roar Netball Club, in a sign of her amazing dedication to netball.
In 2000, she was awarded the Australian Sports Award for her services to sport and she has spent more than 60 years involved with netball, 50 of those years as a hardworking and dedicated volunteer.
Jo Smith was the second recipient of the Service to Sport Award with more than 30 years of service to netball in WA across club, association, region and state level. She has been involved in many areas of the sport, with a particular focus on coaching and development.
Coaching from NetSetGO to state representation, Ms Smith has consistently displayed a passion for developing athletes and coach education and she has been instrumental in implementing a myriad of programs designed to empower coaches and players..
In her 15 years working at Netball WA, she has held various positions and is a champion for regional netball coaches, umpires, players and administrators.
Netball WA also wishes to acknowledge a number of other award winners who were honoured at the Opening Ceremony for their work throughout 2023:
Netball WA Volunteer of the Year
Vanessa Jenkins Kununurra Netball Association
Metropolitan Volunteer of the Year
Mikyla Taylor Belmont Netball Association
2023 Coach Achievement Award
Lisa Callaghan Fremantle Netball Association
2023 Umpire Achievement Award
Kimberley Robinson Rockingham and Districts Netball Association
