As reported in the March 14 edition of The Ensign, all office-bearers from the Edendale and Wyndham netball clubs were standing down and no-one had put their hand up to take over the positions.
Edendale Netball Club held a meeting to discuss the future of its teams and members were hoping they might get some last-minute offers from potential volunteers - but they did not.
Edendale Netball Club president Wendy Lawson said after sending letters home with schoolchildren and putting notices in shops, not one person offered their services at the March 18 meeting.
Mrs Lawson called an emergency meeting on Wednesday night to which 10 players attended and they just managed to scrape enough people together to fill four vacancies.
‘‘It was very disappointing,'' Mrs Lawson said. ‘‘In my opinion, netball in this area has a very short life and in the next few years it will get harder.
‘‘There is so much on offer these days and it seems after primary-school-level people are less interested.
‘‘I send out an SOS each season and we really struggle to fill the positions. Parents support their kids and the club but they are not prepared to be office bearers.''
Wyndham Netball Club secretary Gail Poole said their March 17 meeting ‘‘was a failure''.
‘‘One parent and three teenagers turned up and they all wanted to see netball continue,'' Mrs Poole said. ‘‘The teenagers are happy to coach and we are going to carry on, but with less teams.''
Wyndham Netball Club president Korena Reece is taking a step back from full involvement with the club, because of shoulder surgery, but is happy to carry on as president. However, like many parents, she is involved in more than just netball. She is a rugby medic, a member of the PTA and on the board of trustees.
‘‘This is the first year we have really struggled to get office bearers,'' Mrs Reece said.
‘‘So many parents come to Friday night games, but they won't come forward to help out behind the scenes.''
