Members of netball community on Honours List

Netball NSW would to acknowledge and congratulate the members of our netball community who were awarded Australia Day Honours with three Medals of The Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Divisions presented.

Kath Whitely OAM

Kath has served on the Liverpool City Netball Association since 1968 in a variety of positions such as President, Senior Vice President and Treasurer.  She was a Foundation Member of the Mounties Group, Mounties Netball Club, a Committee Member for 30 years of Mounties Softball, Committee Member of Mounties Lawn Bowls and Committee Member of Liverpool RSL Ballroom Dancing.  She has been Fairfield City's Citizen of the Year and was awarded the Netball NSW Anne Clarke BEM Service Award in 1980.

Lucia Wilcox OAM

Lucia has served on the Newcastle Netball Association Executive Committee since 1981 in a variety of positions including Junior Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Carnival Convenor, Selection Committee Convenor, Administrator Hunter United Metro League and Newcastle Night State League. 

Lucia represented Newcastle and NSW as a player and coached Newcastle Representative and State League Teams for many years. Awarded the Netball NSW Anne Clarke BEM Service Award in 2020, Lucia was also the Hunter Regions Senior Volunteer of the Year and Grand Finalist in the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Valda Brunker OAM

Valda was a founding member of Kiama Netball Association in 1986 and has served as a player, coach, umpire, as well as president from 1986-2015. The Val Brunker Netball Centre at Kiama was named in her honour in 1999.

As well as being a Life Member of the Association, Val is also a Life Member of Kiama and Shellharbour District Tennis Association, Minnamurra Tennis Club and Shellharbour Tennis Association. Val was awarded the Netball NSW Anne Clarke BEM Service Award in 2006.

The recipients were announced by the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd)

'Recipients have made a difference and had an impact at the local, national and/or international level. Individually, they are inspiring and collectively they speak to the strength of our communities,” the Governor-General said.

'Recipients come from all parts of the country. They have served and had an impact in just about every field you can imagine; their stories and backgrounds are diverse. We value their service, thank them for their hard work and selflessness and, today, celebrate them.'