GENERAL - Local sails away with Navy awards for sports, service

To be in the NZ Armed Forces, you have to be fit, dedicated - and it helps if you are into sports.
So it may not come as a great surprise to those who know her that Panguru woman Jo Leef has been named the NZ Navy's sportswoman of the year.
Leef, a past pupil of Panguru Area School, joined the Navy in 2005 and is an Able Stores Accountant.
She has earned her sporting success by excelling in netball, touch, league and rugby.
Leef said her decision to join the Navy was all due to her sister and a cousin, who were both in the Navy at the time and said good things about their career choice.
It also gave her the opportunity to expand her love of sports.
The citation for Leef's award states: "Able Stores Accountant Jo Leef has had the best year of her sporting career in 2008, gaining national honours in rugby league.
"Throughout the course of the year, Jo has been restricted in her netball achievements due to the requirement to complete a promotion course for her next rank of Leading Rate. However, her consistency throughout the club season saw her presented the Sportsmanship Award for the number one team competing in the top league within the North Harbour competition.
"Jo also represented the Navy in touch and rugby, gaining further New Zealand Defence Force selection in touch and attendance at the New Zealand Nationals Tournament with the New Zealand Defence Force team in March."
Leef's main sport is rugby league but, with no women's league team in the Navy, she was forced to play for a civilian club in 2008 - Otahuhu.
Through this she was selected for both the Auckland Rugby League Team for the Nationals competition and the New Zealand Maori team. Although huge achievements within themselves, her main goal for the year was to gain selection in the New Zealand Women's Rugby League team.
With this in mind, she worked with determination throughout 2008, finally achieving her goal at the end of the season.
Leef was also named Navy Sailor of the Quarter during 2008, having demonstrated the Navy core values of courage, comradeship and commitment.