Statement of Purpose
The objectives of the Club will be to foster and promote amateur netball and to encourage social activities among its members, and in particular youth in the area.
The purposes for which the club is established are to:
a) Foster and promote amateur netball in the Pinewood (Mt Waverley) and surrounding areas
b) Develop netball skills and sportsmanship in all members
c) Encourage the youth of the area to participate in netball and associated social activities, by representing netball as a means of improving health, fitness and quality of life
d) Organise and conduct team entry in local area association competitions
e) Appoint a Committee of Management to represent and act on behalf of its members in accordance with these rules and good management practices
f) To invest and deal with any monies of the club not immediately required
History
The Pinewood Netball Club was formed in 1964 as a result of a growing number of girls wishing to play basketball. The club originally included basketball (as netball was then known) and softball teams and was known as the ‘Pinewood and District Girls Sports Club’
The Pinewood teams played for the Waverley Basketball Association, as this was when Netball was still known as Ladies Basketball.
The name of the club was modified to ‘Pinewood Ex-Students Girls Sports Club’ following discussions with the then principal of Pinewood State School, Mr Cunningham, who objected to anyone other than past or present students of the school using the school facilities – that is the basketball court – for training.
The uniform at the time was a yellow overblouse with tunic. In 1965 it was decided that the club colours would be yellow and green. The No. 1 team wore a yellow blouse and red skirt and all other teams wore a yellow Pinewood overblouse. The wearing of a uniform was not enforced due to costs involved. In 1965 green material was purchased to make overblouses for D grade No. 2 Team.
In 1966 the uniform had to be registered with the association and the club decided on white blouse, brown and white checkered tunic, white cord tie, white socks and sandshoes.
In 1966 the name of the club was changed to Pinewood Girls Sports Club and was open to all girls in the district. This came about after the inclusion of a senior team into the club thus giving girls the opportunity to keep playing right through.
The netball competition started off playing its games on the courts available at many schools in the Waverley district until in 1969 when the games were played in the carpark of the Waverley Pool in Waverley Road.
In 1971 the name of association changed from WDBA to WDNA—that is Basketball was replaced with the word ‘netball’.
This was also when the name of the club was changed to Pinewood Netball Club. The softball club that had been part of the club amalgamated with another club and developed its own rules and committee.
In 1972 the uniform was a white short sleeve t-shirt, short white socks, navy blue pants, lime green shift with Pinewood emblem. This year there were 14 teams entered.
Due to the popularity of netball and the large number of teams, the WDNA divided into two associations in the mid 1970’s with the second association being established at Jells Park. Blackburn Road was the dividing line in deciding which netball clubs went with each association.
The club has a Senior and Junior Club award that is awarded to nominated players on an annual basis. The Senior Club award was originally known as the Jill Albrecht award but today is known as the McGregor trophy. The Junior Club award was named in 1993 as the ‘The Frank Mardell Encouragement Trophy’.
The current uniforms of the club have their origins in the late 1990s, with the junior uniform’s printed polo shirt and silky pleated skirts introduced in 1996. These have been slightly modified due to material availability. The current lime green Lycra dresses were introduced in 2000 for the senior teams.
The number of teams entered in competition each season has varied over the years.
The club won its first premiership in 1967 and has gone on to win many more since that time.
The club experienced its largest number of members during the 1970s and 1980s and in many seasons would enter 18 to 20 teams in competition. There were many successes during these seasons.
Since 2005 the Club has consistently been represented in the Grand Finals of both the Winter and Spring season in at least one section in the WDNA competition. In the majority of cases the Club has achieved at least one premiership in each of these seasons.
As of 2020 the Pinewood Netball Club has 9 teams entered into the WDNA competition ranging from U/9 through to Open divisions and development squads for Grade 1 and 2 boys and girls. The Club also has representatives in the WDNA district competition teams across multiple age groups.
Life members
Jill Albrecht
Lesley James
Betty Standfield
Debra McGregor
Sandra McGregor
Robyn Gibson