Building success with Port Stephens’ rep netball convenor Nadina Marsh

WITH a wealth of experience as a netball mentor, Nadina Marsh is a valuable asset to the sport she fosters passionately.

You’ll find the dynamic representative netball convenor encouraging players, officials and umpires all year-round in the Port Stephens Netball Association (PSNA), based at Raymond Terrace.

Whether it’s coaching aspiring or seasoned players, co-ordinating development and senior programs, or giving technical advice to umpires, tireless Nadina puts in countless hours on and off court.

Her involvement in the game spans nearly five decades and she is widely respected around the state netball scene.

It has been a fascinating journey since her introduction to the sport as a young schoolgirl in Kempsey.

Nadina represented the Macleay Netball Association as a skilful centre from Under 12s to Opens before relocating to the Port Stephens region.

She served Nelson Bay as a hard working secretary and umpires convenor, before moving across to the Port Stephens association where she has given yeoman service for the past decade as a representative coach.

Last year, Nadina was officially recognised for her tremendous contribution to representative netball with a Service Medal.

She continues to impart her knowledge of the game to hundreds of young and older athletes, and she has been a long-standing executive member.

Most recently, she was Technical Services Officer – supporting both the association’s coaching and umpire pathways.

Nadina’s organisational skills are exemplary.

She has also served as secretary of Nelson Bay FC for six years as well as the Nelson Bay Touch Football Association and she founded The Bay club, which fields three teams in the PSNA competition.

When she has time, Nadina turns out for The Bay’s Senior Two outfit where she holds her own against younger opponents with her netball smarts, vision and tenacity.

The three Bay teams feature many of Port Stephens’ rising junior representative players who have all been coached by Nadina at various levels.

Netball also runs in the family.

Daughter, Taylah Potter, is a talented midcourter with the Queanbeyan club in the Canberra Netball Association.

Taylah represented Nelson Bay from Under 12s to Under 17s at state carnivals and later Port Stephens from Under 17s to Opens at NSW State Senior titles where she impressed with her court craft.

A highlight for Nadina at the recent State Senior Championships at Campbelltown was watching the Port Stephens Under 17 girls capture back to back Division Four trophies.

Many of the girls featured in Nadina’s Under 15 Port Stephens representative team, which finished third at last year’s State Junior titles.

“It was a huge thrill to see Port Stephens and Nelson Bay finish top two in the Under 17s Division Four and several of the girls step up and produce the goods in senior company,” Nadina told News Of The Area.

“Both Nelson Bay and Port Stephens Netball are close to my heart and we continue to enjoy our shared successes at elite carnivals throughout the state.”

By Chris KARAS