Whiteman wants to widen net for regions

Kim Whiteman doesn't see herself as a miracle worker.

Tomorrow will be her first day as general manager of Netball Wellington Region, whose affiliates include the Wairarapa centre, and while she has been charged with leading the organisation through major restructuring changes she won't put a definite timeframe on when they will all be in place.

"We've identified what needs to happen but it could take a couple of years before we have things where we want them to be ... we want to make sure everybody is working off the same page."

Workman, who lives in Wairarapa and will continue to do so, says Netball Wellington Region was keen to enhance the delivery of services to their affiliates in administration and on the court.

For instance, plans were to establish one website which would be the hub of information for netball over the whole region and there was a possibility that some centres would no longer need to employ managers to look after their own needs.

"Obviously we will be talking to all the centres about what they see as being suitable for them and how we can help them achieve the best results," she said.

NWR will be promoting a development programme aimed at improving the standards of young players across the region in the hope that eventually it will also provide a big lift to standards at the top end.

"We want to give the same opportunities to youngsters in, say Wairarapa, as we do in Wellington, it's a truly regional strategy we are looking at."

Meanwhile, another Wairarapa sporting identity, Catherine Rossister-Stead, has been appointed media manager of the Pulse national league side for the 2012 season through her company, Promote Communications Ltd.

Rossiter-Stead was in the limelight over the 2011 Rugby World Cup when she was responsible for co-ordinating the visit of the Georgian team to Wairarapa.