The history of our club began with a trial of Snowtown Football Club players playing with the Blyth Football Club in 1987.

At the end of 1988, a historic vote was held to form the Blyth Snowtown Football Club. The first Blyth Snowtown football game was played in 1989 as the new club under the colours of red and white and the name of the roosters.

In 1993 with the introduction of a new club to the association who were also the roosters, a vote was held and the colours changed to blue and white and to be known as the Cats.

The two netball clubs however did not merge as both were still strong on their own and had a large number of players and therefore decided to continue as separate clubs in various program formats.

After declining netballers and a directive from NENA the Blyth and Snowtown Netball Clubs officially amalgamated in 1995.

AMALGAMATION TIMELINE

1987 Snowtown footballers play for Blyth Footy Club. At the end of the season they form the Blyth Snowtown Football Club. In November 1987, Snowtown Netball Club approach Blyth NC regarding amalgamation. At a Special General Meeting, Blyth NC vote against this due to numbers of players.

1989 Blyth NC reconsider amalgamation position but it is defeated at a Special General Meeting in October 1989

1990-91 Blyth junior netballers play for Snowtown NC

During this time only Blyth netball had an A1 and they followed the Blyth Snowtown football club. NENA Netball had a 9-team comp (whilst NEFL football had an 8-team comp). Blyth and Snowtown netball clubs would alternate between weeks to follow the BS football club. On the week they didn’t follow the football club they travelled to the opposition’s ground who had a bye and filled that gap. Numbers from both Blyth and Snowtown clubs slowly declined throughout this period.

1993 Blyth Snowtown Football Club write to the two Netball Clubs to convene a meeting “to discuss the future of winter sport in the Blyth and Snowtown communities” Blyth Netball Club formally approach Snowtown NC regarding amalgamation. At a Special General Meeting held 28 Oct 1993, Snowtown vote against amalgamation for 1994 season but with consideration of certain guidelines would continue to work towards “seriously considering amalagamation”

1994 NENA vote to disallow Blyth Netball Club and Snowtown Netball Club to field teams separately. NENA President ‘After last year’s program, which included Sunday games, whenever the footballers had a bye the netballers had to play and some clubs had trouble finding teams on the bye day’ The two clubs were forced to field senior and junior teams between them. Snowtown A2, B1, C1, J1, J3. Blyth A1, B2, J2. Combined Under 17 and second J3 teams.

Numbers for both netball clubs were declining in 1994 and after discussion it was agreed to elect a steering committee to arrange the terms of amalgamation in readiness for 1995. This committee consisted of Ros Zweck, Sue Pratt, Julie McEwin & Vicki Hutchens from Blyth Netball Club and Heather Griffin, Jenni Hewett, Maureen Coffey, Ellen Kelly & Glenys Nolan (Proxy) from Snowtown Netball Club. The committee met on a regular basis and prepared a constitution and terms of amalgamation for adoption at the first Annual General Meeting. They also discussed options for the new uniforms.

1994 Each Club nominates members to form a steering committee to investigate amalgamation. The committee consists of Ros Zweck (BNC President), Sue Pratt, Julie McEwin & Vicki Hutchens with Cathy Agnew & Janet Zweck as proxys from Blyth Netball Club and Heather Griffin, Jenni Hewett, Maureen Coffey (SNC President), Ellen Kelly & Glenys Nolan (Proxy) from Snowtown Netball Club. They meet regularly throughout the season, agreeing to terms and drafting a Constitution.

1995 At a meeting held at Snowtown on 7 Feb 1995, with 37 people present, a vote was taken to officially amalgamate the two clubs and form the Blyth Snowtown Netball Club Inc. The Chairperson was the late Phil Barry. President: Maureen Coffey, Vice President Janet Zweck, Secretary Sue Pratt, Assistant Secretary Jenni Hewett, Treasurer Jane Matthews, Committee: Heather Griffin, Glenys Nolan, Ellen Kelly, Lyn Welke, Tracey Andriske, Jennie-Lee Kennett. First subs $20 Adults, $10 Juniors First uniform skirt $24, “Ringtail” shirt $38

The first President of the Blyth Snowtown Netball Club, Maureen Coffey was elected from the meeting. Each club then nominated 5 delegates from each club. They were:

• ·Blyth – Sue Pratt, Tracey Andriske, Janet Zweck, Jane Matthews, Jennie Kennett; and

• ·Snowtown – Heather Griffin, Glenys Nolan, Jenni Hewett, Ellen Kelly and Lynette Welke.

From this committee the following positions were elected:

Vice President – Janet Zweck, Secretary – Sue Pratt, Assistant Secretary – Jenni Hewett, Treasurer – Jane Matthews.

The senior netball uniform adopted was a navy parasilk double pleated skirt, white polo top with blue/purple patterned parasilk insert across the shoulders. The netball uniform included plain white polo top and navy pleated skirt. Socks were white with double navy band and letters BSNC.

Each club nominated 3 senior and 2 junior coaches at the Annual General Meeting and these coaches met to arrange the coaches of each grade. Coaches for 1995 were:- A1 – Tracey Andriske, A2 – Heather Griffin; B1 – Cathy Agnew; B2 – Lynette Welke; C1 – Sonia Talbot; U17 – Jane Matthews; J1 – Janet Zweck; J2 – Ellen Kelly; J3 – Denby Wandel; J4 – Pat Keech.

In our first year our club won three premierships – A2, B1 & B2.

NENA Best & Fairest Winners & Runners Up from our Club were:

A2 – Janet Zweck – Winner

B1 – Heather Williams – Runner Up

B2 – Lisa Stirling – Runner Up

J1 – Emma Coffey – Runner Up