Volunteer winner does it for love

Netball Wairarapa board president Sandy Biel has a simple reason for her long involvement in the sport.
"I enjoy it, simple as that", was Biel's reply as she reflected on her being named Netball Wellington Region Volunteer of the Year for 2009. "And when the enjoyment goes so will I".
Biel's current list of duties tells you something about her love of the game.Not only is she Netball Wairarapa's board president but she is also their match secretary, a member of the centre umpiring panel, a premier one umpire herself and coach of the Fagan Motors Hotshots, who have just completed their debut season at premier one level.
No wonder then she won the Gover's trophy for individual contribution at this year's Netball Wairarapa prize giving ceremony before she picked up her latest award, for which nominations were called from all over the greater Wellington region, which takes in the likes of Kapiti, Kapi Mana, Hutt Valley and Wellington itself.
Netball Wairarapa centre manager Kim Whiteman was ":rapt to bits" Biel's efforts were being officially recognised.
"The enormity of her contribution is often unnoticed or forgotten," she said of Biel. "Netball in Wairarapa has gone ahead in leaps and bounds over the last few years and a lot of that would not have been possible without Sandy's leadership and support of change".
Whiteman said the extent of Biel's voluntary work, which covers close to two decades, would probably not be fully appreciated until she moved on and left what would be an "incredible void".
Fortunately for Wairarapa netball though retirement currently doesn't figure in Biel's plans. She still thoroughly enjoys what she is doing and is excited at the positive direction her centre is taking to ensure local netball continues to grow and expand.
Part of that growth could be a proposal by the Netball Wairarapa board that an indoor complex with three courts and sports offices be built in the Masterton area at a cost of between $4.5m and $6m..
Obviously they are stressing the need form other sports to join them in a project of that type and Biel is convinced netball for one would gain hugely if it becomes a reality.
"Netball has become very much an indoor sport and it is vital we move with the times,"she said. "If we want to host major tournaments and give our players the best chance to hone their skills we need to have at least three indoor courts...it's the only way to go.".