With more than two decades of service to Netball, Kelly Cameron has become a familiar and valued presence at Shore Rovers Netball Club and across the North Harbour region.
Now in her 12th year as Club President, Kelly oversees coach and player development, manages club communications, and supports the wider netball community through her role on the Netball North Harbour Games Committee. This season, she’s coaching both the Albany Senior High School 1 and 2 teams.
“I think it's been 25 years on committee and 23 years coaching,” she says. “I joined after being nominated at a prizegiving -I liked having a say in how things were run. Then I started coaching because we needed people to step up, and I figured I could help.”
Her volunteer load clocks up around 12 hours a week, more during the height of the season. Over the years, she’s also coached and managed representative teams, and was once an apprentice coach under legends Yvonne Willering and Helene Wilson.
From Club Secretary, Vice President and Coaching Coordinator to coach of teams from Kristin School to Forrest Hill, Kelly’s commitment has never wavered.
Outside of netball, Kelly brings that same energy to her community. As the Community Bike Lead for Harbour Sport, she spends her time in schools teaching tamariki how to ride bikes safely. And when there’s any spare time left, she’s likely to be found in the garden.
“Volunteering has taught me more than any formal PD or career course. Managing people and coaching teaches you so much about yourself and others. You get to make a difference to someone as a person, not just a player.”
That human impact is what matters most. From handwritten thank-you cards from tamariki at Forrest Hill School to a stainless steel jug gifted by “Kelly’s Angels,” the memories are many.
“I’ve kept every single card I’ve received,” she says. “The kids are so honest and open with their words, it means so much.”
She’s the first to admit that volunteering has its challenges.
“It’s the people that make it either the most awesome or the most challenging,” she laughs. “But at the end of the day, I know I’ve done my best to support every single one of those women who put on a netball uniform.”
Tournaments, she says, are pure magic, a chance to see people at their most real.
“Those are the moments that stay with you. The friendships, the laughs, the lessons. I love Netball, and I love the people in it. That’s why I keep showing up.”
If you would like to be connected to your local netball Centre, contact Jenna (