Months of intensive organisation by the Taupo Netball executive committee culminated in the arrival of the Fijian Netball team in Taupo in July 1970. Six hundred spectators were treated to some scintillating netball when Taupo played against Fiji. Taupo tried hard but were outplayed by brilliant interceptions, spectacular leaping for high passes, and accurate goaling by the visitors, earning them a win 40-26. Those to stand out in a fine local team effort were the wing-attack and captain, Louise Stevens (nee Young) and the centre, Diane Romley.
Since 1962, the 'College A' team had been the champions in the Senior A grade Taupo Netball Association competitions. In 1970 however, stiff competition from the newly formed 'Kiwi' team broke their 'mana' at last.
Taupo also had a visit in this year by Rothmans National Netball Coach, Miss Marion Smith. Miss Smith came to promote Netball.
Louise Stevens came to Taupo early in 1970 to be supervisor of the newly opened Hinemoa Kindergarten, and planned to try her hand a various other sports, chief among them being golf. Through her persuasive and energetic approach, Chris Wills talked Louise into starting a new club 'Kiwi'. At the end of the 1970 season presentations, Kiwi I won the Senior A grade - K.O. Lewis Cup and Kiwi II won the Senior B grade Challenge Cup.
The South Waikato sole selector coach, Mrs Yvonne Sycamore was delighted to welcome Louise to the South Waikato netball scene and named her in the successful South Waikato team which defeated Fiji. Louise, along with Barbara Willams and Jacquie Kahu (nee Robertson) of Taupo, were also in the South Waikato team that won the third grade competitions at the National tournament in Palmerston North, earning them promotion to the second grade.
In 1971 Louise capped a long career in netball with selection in the New Zealand netball team due to tour Tonga, Western Samoa and Fiji. Louise captained the team.
Barbara WilliamsSouth Waikato Rep 1960,61,69,70C W.A W.DCaptian / CoachJacqueline RobertsonSouth Waikato Rep 1970G.D G.Know J.KahuEllen MartinTaupo Rep 1967, 1968, 1969South Waikato TrialistG.Anow E. MurchPolly-Ann KapuaThird form Rep 1969College A team, 1970G.SOfficials
Louise YoungNorth Island Rep 1969South Waikato Rep 1970C W.A W.D G.DVice Captainnow L. StevensChristine CairnsPlayed senior gradein NSW for 2 years.Massey University, 1967G.SMargaret SchreiberSouth Waikato TrialistSouth Auck. Netball Assoc. UmpireG.K G.D W.DMrs B ReidSelector, Manager.President, Taupo Netball Assoc
Taupo Senior Women's Team, which played Fiji Women's Team - at the Taupo Domain Thursday 9th July 1970.
In 1972 in recognition of her service to netball, Mrs Reid was sent to Blenheim for the national tournament where she saw the South Waikato team emerge as co-winners with North Shore, of the President's Shield.On points North Shore won promotion to the first grade. Two local girls, Louise and Pam Gardener, were in the South Waikato team.
1973 saw Mrs Joyce McCann, New Zealand Netball Association President, call in at the Taupo Domain courts on her way to Putaruru, where the South Waikato Netball Association was celebrating 25 years of affiliation to the New Zealand Association.
The South Waikato Netball Association area embraced Taupo, Tokoroa and Putaruru.
In 1974 Taupo netball players, Irene Henry and Nicki Davison were selected to represent Taupo to promote netball.
In 1974 Mrs Reid who had served as President for 12 years and had actively engaged in umpiring for as many years, was made a life member of the Taupo Netball Association, and Mrs Wills took over as President, with Mrs V. Currie, the mayors wife, as patron.
Mrs Wills immediately displayed her drive in the promotion of netball at Taupo and at national level by leading a fund raising campaign for a netball pavilion, and in 1975, co-ordinating its construction. She also headed a sub-committee responsible for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Taupo Netball Association in 1978.
The New Zealand Netball Association President, Mrs Ann Taylor of Hamilton, who attended the celebration congratulated Taupo on their notable progress and said that the pavilion was probably the most attractive she had seen.
1976 - Rothmans's National Netball Coach, Miss Marion Smith conducted coaching clinics at the Taupo Domain netball courts, and advised of the major international rule change requiring all players to wear eight-inch positional bibs from that season.
Mrs Chris Wills and Mrs Mary Vincent (Taupo Netball Association Secretary) were appointed as South Waikato delegates to the New Zealand Netball Association.
Three young Taupo netball players, Jenny Wills, Sandy Courtney and Venna Albert were named for South Waikato for the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Championships at Palmerston North.
1977 - Louise Stevens was named selector-coach of the South Waikato Provincial team for the season. She was playing for the Kiwi senior team in Taupo at the time.
Christine Vincent - Taupo Nui-a-tia College wing-attack and centre, was named in the South Waikato team to play in the North Island Secondary Schools' Championships at Palmerston North.
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