It announced a net loss of $3584 at last night's annual meeting. While the organisation is not back in the black, the loss is significantly lower than the $37,976 loss posted last year. It had initially planned to record a deficit equal to the $21,320 surplus it made in 2014, but overshot by nearly $17,000.
After identifying its representative format was not sustainable, it was there that Dunedin Netball made its biggest saving this year. It spent nearly $23,000 less in that area, helping its total operating expenses fall from $143,657 to $84,144.
Total income rose from $237,485 to $285,337, while total cost of sales also rose, from $209,221 to $251,624. Other income fell almost $30,000, with no centennial income this year accounting for nearly $20,000 of that.
It also recognised the shortcoming of playing its premier competition midweek and moved it back to Saturdays. The biggest issue outlined in the end-of-season survey had been taking the top umpires and player/umpires away from the Saturday competitions.
The senior grades had an increase of 13 teams. There was also an increase in primary school teams, although there was a slight drop in secondary school grades. All up, 285 teams were playing in Dunedin Netball competitions.
Dunedin Netball also announced its awards for 2017. Southern Steel midcourter Gina Crampton was awarded the Certificate of Recognition. Crampton won the ANZ Premiership player of the year award at last year's New Zealand netball awards, while also making her debut for the Silver Ferns.
Referee and Dunedin Netball chairman Jono Bredin won the Prestige Service Award. He has been involved with netball since 2001 and is estimated to be close to having officiated at 1000 games right up to international level.
He began as Netball Dunedin's referee development officer in 2005 and in 2008 took the reins at the Dunedin Netball Centre.
Lauren Piebenga, Alice Wells and Tong Knox were also given Service Awards.
- Jeff Chesire
