When it comes to service in netball it is hard to look past Shepparton great, Val Sutherland who was recently inducted into the Honour Roll of the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame for her commitment to the sport.
A member of the Shepparton Netball Association for close to 70 years, there is no denying the love and passion Val has for netball.
After COVID restrictions forced the awards night to be postponed from August to February this year, Val’s time to shine finally came. But little did she know what was in store for her.
“It was a fantastic surprise, I’ve had that many surprises lately I’m still in shock. I’ve always been interested in netball from about 13 years old when you weren’t allowed to play netball until you were 14.”
Like many, it was sibling rivalry that first got Val interested in netball with her older sisters sparking her interest in the game.
“My sisters were all involved in netball, and then one of my sisters became a netball umpire and involved in the association and of course, it made me determined. I thought ‘I could be a better umpire than her, I will just have to try very hard’ – which I did. I went to all the meetings that could be held – this was after I became an ordinary player of course,” she laughed.
“I became an A-grade umpire which I was very pleased with back in those days. I’m still involved with mentoring the young umpires who we are desperately in need of these days.”
Throughout her time at the association Val has had a profound impact, holding many titles ranging from player to treasurer and of course an umpire. But when asked what it was that kept her around all these years, the answer was plain and simple.
“The love of the game. I think I have held every position except for secretary. My daughter and granddaughter weren’t that interested in netball, I probably turned them off because I was always so involved.
“I liked being a player, a coach, an umpire, an administrator, a president, vice president...”
The list goes on. In fact, Val even held the title of selector for Country Week which was an exciting moment in her netball life.
“Teams were picked from around Goulburn Valley and we competed at Association Champs. We went to Sydney, and I umpired with Maureen who was an Australian umpire, which was pretty good.”
The game has steadily changed throughout the course of Val’s life and involvement in the sport, including the progression from one umpire per match to two.
“It’s obviously got much faster, and the court has changed from what it was many years ago.
“It has two umpires these days, where in our early days we only had one umpire. The court was divided differently - instead of a circle it had a line across the middle from one side of the court to the other. Your wings were divided in half as well.”
At 84, Val is still actively involved in the Shepparton Netball Association acting as a mentor for many of the beginner umpires.
“I probably should have given it away years ago, but what do you do if you stop playing or umpiring after all these years? Now all I am doing is mentoring young umpires which I enjoy doing.
“I’m semi-retired and I still enjoy it, you just get a lot of pleasure out of seeing them progress.”
Val’s netball legacy will live on with a court also named in her honour, a tribute that also came as a surprise for the veteran.
“They don’t do things without me knowing about it, but I didn’t know about this one.”
Val has no shortage of accolades to her name, awarded the prestigious Australian Sports Medal from the Queen of England - an honour that she looks back upon with fond memories.
Her influence on the netball community has been felt right across Victoria, receiving the Netball Victoria Distinction Award, and regional awards reflecting her ongoing love and commitment to growing netball in regional areas of the state.
“It’s because you enjoy these things, that’s why you do them,” she said.
*Image supplied by Shepparton News
