Waihi Netball Centre

Volunteer of the Month – August

August’s Volunteer of the Month is someone who truly embodies what it means to give back to our netball community.

Jess goes above and beyond every single week, pouring her time, energy and heart into making netball the best it can be. Her passion for the game and her positive vibes are inspirational, and her dedication has helped turn the atmosphere of our club around this year.

From coaching multiple teams and umpiring, to chairing committee meetings, organising fundraisers and taking our girls away to tournaments, Jess is constantly finding ways to support our players and help them grow. She has spent countless hours at the courts, creating a welcoming environment, making sure everyone feels included, and helping set up the best possible situation for next season. All of this while working and managing her own family life a true testament to her commitment and generosity.

She is hardworking, incredibly kind and supportive, and always willing to lend a hand. Her dedication to her team and our wider community does not go unnoticed.

Waihi Netball simply would not be what it is without her.

Our community is so incredibly grateful for everything she does. Thank you for your time, your energy, your kindness and for always bringing those positive vibes.

Congratulations Jess O’Brien and thank you for being such an incredible part of our netball whānau.

These are just some of the citations shared by our community voters.

Evening whānau,

There are moments in netball that make you stop, smile, and feel incredibly proud of the people who represent our centre and today is one of those moments.

A huge congratulations to Jaylah Rolleston and Isabelle McCulloch on their selection for the 2026 Magic in the Making Development Camp!

These ladies were among 70 players selected from across more than 75 schools, making this an absolutely outstanding achievement. To have 2 of our Waihi Netball Centre members recognised at this level is something we are incredibly proud of.

Jaylah represented not only Waihi Netball Centre, but also her family, her kura, and all those who have supported her throughout her netball journey. We are so excited to see where this opportunity takes you. Congratulations, Jaylah. What an incredible achievement.

And another massive congratulations to our centre member Isabelle McCulloch, who represented Thames Valley Netball throughout the representative campaign and has also done our centre proud. It is wonderful to see our members achieving at regional level and continuing to make their mark in the wider netball community.

Both Jaylah and Isabelle have been part of an incredible representative season, competing across regional representative tournaments and the North Island Secondary Schools Netball Championships, and UNISS. To have our centre members selected and representing at these levels is a huge achievement.

And we cannot forget another fantastic accomplishment from Jaylah, Rylee Morgan, and Wairaraua Noa-Paul who were selected in the 2026 D-Grade UNISS Tournament Team. From 32 teams and more than 320 players, these girls were among the top 10 players selected. That is an incredible achievement and a testament to the hard work, determination, and commitment they have shown throughout their UNISS campaign.

Waihi Netball Centre could not be any prouder of you ladies. We are so excited to celebrate these achievements with you and to see what the future holds. Congratulations again Jaylah, Isabelle, Rylee, and Waira.

🎉 3 YEARS OF POSITIVE VIBES ONLY! 🎉

Positive Vibes Only is turning 3! 💗 And what better way to celebrate than by getting ready to bring the POSITIVE VIBES to UNISS 2026 next week! 🏐✨

Join us for a special Positive Vibes Only Webinar and learn how we can all play our part in creating a positive, respectful and enjoyable UNISS experience.

Whether you're a PLAYER, COACH, PARENT, MANAGER or UMPIRE — this one is for you! 🙌

💬 What does Positive Vibes Only look like at UNISS?
👏 How can we support our players and each other?
💗 How can we make sure the sidelines, courts and benches are full of positive energy?

Let's get on the same page and make UNISS 2026 the best one yet!

📅 Thursday 27 August
⏰ 6:30pm
💻 Join us online
Join:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/426360091314599?p=5ado3PF9NLw7NWDvd9

Meeting ID:
426 360 091 314 599

Passcode:
bg9GR3eG

Everyone involved in UNISS is encouraged to attend. Let's celebrate 3 years of Positive Vibes Only and get ready to make the positive vibes flow at UNISS! 💗🌊

See you there! 👋

Heading to UNISS? Don't miss this chance to learn from former professional players and a sports physio. Ask your questions and get practical tips on performance, recovery, injury prevention, and tournament preparation.

Join online, this Wednesday, 19th August, 6pm-7pm.

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/487786301934057?p=PULqSBcusoDatG8hI

Now that we've fully wrapped up our season there must be a volunteer you can think of that deserves some recognition?

Coach, Manager, sideline Supporter, volunteers are the backbone of our teams and without them the teams don’t go ahead!!

Get your nominations in for the month of August (our last month of nominations).

https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/512205?fbclid=IwY2xjawTqY_twZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUxsQ2M1eU4wSll6Szh6WUxzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeC_qD0HMSFC21TCwKw0qOhPLSraMmY_yJQa1RLxgjPnf5Tu33JsPnkoyuFCI_aem_lnmXhbQ7OLGHCsH6ucjE4w

📣 UMPIRE PAYMENTS UPDATE 🏐

Kia ora everyone,

Just a quick update to let all our awesome umpires know that umpire payments will be made by the end of this week. 🙌

We’re currently working through all payments to triple-check the amounts and ensure everything is correct before processing them. We want to make sure everyone receives the right payment and avoid any errors or mistakes.

We really appreciate your patience and understanding while we get this sorted. To avoid further delays please ensure that we have your bank account details on file.

Thank you again for your time, commitment and support throughout the season, our competition simply wouldn’t run without you! 🏐💜

🏐 SKILLS, LEARN & PLAY 🏐

A day of netball development, connection and fun for players, coaches and umpires across the Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone!

Join us for a jam-packed day featuring:
⭐ Player development sessions for futureFERNS Years 5–8 and Secondary School players
⭐ Coach development with practical tools and ideas ahead of UNISS & AIMS Games
⭐ Umpire development to build confidence and skills on court
⭐ NetballSmart workshops supporting players, coaches and umpires
⭐ Special guest coaches from the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic — Georgie Edgecombe & Rebecca Gabel

📅 Sunday 16th August
⏰ 10:00am–3:00pm (session times may vary by group)
📍 Otorohanga Netball Centre
REGISTER HERE - https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/523347

Come along, learn new skills, connect with others and enjoy a great day of netball!

Growing players, coaches and umpires together.