Court named for Pat Kuhne

FOUNDING member and long-term servant of the Leongatha & District Netball Association, Pat Kuhne, was honoured during the competition’s Grand Final day last month, with court 4 named after her.

“It was a big surprise; over the years I’ve been lucky to have Life Memberships at all levels, but I guess recognition by your own association and the people you’ve worked with for so long is a great honour and it’s not anything anybody expects,” Kuhne said.

While her netball journey began in the juniors of Mordialloc Life Saving Club, her family made a shift when Kuhne was 13 and she started playing for Leongatha Town, a side she represented for 35 years on court.

When she arrived, the club was playing games on grass courts at Leongatha Recreation Reserve and also competing in places such as Dumbalk, Meeniyan and Dumbalk North, following the fixture of the then South Gippsland Football League.

Kuhne was a long-term representative of Town Black, one of the club’s A Grade sides, and seeing Town take out this year’s A Grade premiership added to her day of celebration, with the presentation of her honour following the match.

“For them to win was the icing on the cake,” Kuhne said.

She enjoyed plenty of on-court success during her playing days, featuring in seven premiership sides and four that finished runner-up.

In addition to playing, Kuhne has made a vast contribution as an umpire since taking up the pursuit aged 15, earning a B Grade Badge when she was 16 and becoming the first A Badged umpire in the area in 1969.

While she would love to still be blowing the whistle, she gave up officiating a couple of years ago, her body refusing to cooperate with her mind’s desire to continue.

However, she is still heavily involved in mentoring and testing young umpires, having been a tester for 53 years.

Kuhne has also filled committee posts for the LDNA, including as its inaugural secretary in 1966.

Life Membership has been awarded to her by Leongatha Town Netball Club, the LDNA, the Gippsland Netball Region and Netball Victoria and she received a State Distinction for outstanding service to netball.

Kuhne produced a book commemorating 50 years of the LDNA and is working on a new section to celebrate the Association’s upcoming 60th birthday celebrations.

Renowned state-wide umpire mentor Annie Castles highlighted why Kuhne is deserving of having an LDNA court named in her honour.

“Your love of netball and the Leongatha Netball Association no one can ever dispute; you are stubborn, outspoken and persistent when fighting for the grassroots netballer.”

With 630 players hitting the LDNA courts each Saturday, Kuhne sees grassroots netball as “so important”, noting many of those now playing for football league affiliated sides began in grassroots competition as did others who have progressed to higher levels of the sport.

Kuhne reflected on her many LDNA memories and lifelong friendships she has made through her involvement.

“Thank you to LDNA for deeming me worthy of this honour,” she said, expressing her appreciation to the association’s president Emma Smith and her committee for their efforts in organising the presentation, as well as the input of Maria Evison and the support of Kuhne’s husband Keith.