Learning’s easy when it’s fun
IREMEMBER playing netball at Kaitaia College before netball was held where it is now. I played for Kaitaia Primary Orange, and my older sister Marion would take me.
I love that I got to play sport with my sisters as a family. We had a basketball team called the Ballheads, with our hot pink and black uniforms. I even got a tattoo of our team emblem on my right shoulder because I loved my family team and the sport that much.
Although we didn’t have the flashest facilities growing up, there were no barriers to playing sport. Dad made the money and Mum was in charge of making it stretch. Mum and Dad worked hard to pay for everything, not just for me but my nine other siblings.
I remember there being carless days, where personal cars had days when they weren’t allowed to be on the road. Mum still had to get us to netball trainings, and she always found a way on that particular day.
Living in Kaitaia didn’t stop me from doing regional agegroup netball, travelling to Kaikohe, Whangarei, Kawakawa or Kerikeri weekly. My sister and I ran raffles for petrol money so we could get places. We also received loads of support from our clubs.
Pakaru knees have stopped me playing, but I coach, do admin and umpire. Focusing forward and looking to the future for me is now about supporting my husband, my three children and two moko, and their aspirations.
Sport is so important. It’s a great leveller, you learn discipline, dedication, participation, sportsmanship and self-management. It teaches kids all that stuff, and because they are having fun, they don’t even realise it. Learning is easy when it is fun.