A lifetime of netball

At 82 years young, Edgewater Village resident, Marlene Flavell (MNZM) still moves with the same passion and purpose that has defined more than six decades and service to netball in New Zealand.

From premier-grade player and Silver Ferns, to coach, mentor and Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Marlene’s contribution to the game has left an enduring legacy.

“I’m never going to stop loving netball,” Marlene laughs. “It’s been part of my life since I was 12 years old.”

These days, her proudest moments aren’t taking place on a national stage – they’re unfolding closer to home, with a whistle round her neck and a group of enthusiastic women by her side at Edgewater Village.

Her lifelong love of the game has recently inspired the creation of Edgewater Village’s very own walking netball team. What began as a casual conversation quickly turned into a committed social and sporting group.

“One of the ladies said, ‘Marlene’s a netball lady,’ and that was it,” she says. “Next thing, we were organising practices and heading down to Auckland Netball’s courts together.”

Walking netball is a modified version of the game, growing in popularity. It’s designed to keep people active and connected, without the intensity of traditional netball. There’s no running or jumping, but according to Marlene, it can still be surprisingly fast-paced.

The group now plays weekly games at Auckland Netball, carpooling together and staying afterwards for coffee and plenty of laughter.

“We thought it was going to be all older ladies when we first started,” she laughs. “But there are women of all ages playing. Some of the youngies are in their twenties and they love it.”

Each Friday morning, Marlene runs training sessions for the new Edgewater Village netballers, teaching everything from centre passes and shooting drills to movement and peripheral vision exercises.

“They listen, they’re keen to learn, and most importantly, they enjoy themselves,” she says. “It’s not about being competitive. It’s about participation, friendship and keeping active.”

“The social side is wonderful,” says Marlene. “We all sit together afterwards and have a chat. That comradeship is really important.”

In recognition of the team’s growing enthusiasm, Edgewater’s maintenance team recently installed a netball hoop at the village, giving the women their own space to train and practice shooting goals.

“It’s fantastic,” she says. “We make it work with the space we’ve got.”

While Marlene’s achievements in netball are extensive – including coaching Māori representative teams to gold medal victories and serving as a Silver Fern selector for a decade – receiving her MNZM in 2016 remains the most meaningful.

“That was beautiful,” she reflects. “It was such an honour for the service I’d given to netball over the years.”

Accolades aside, it’s clear Marlene’s greatest joy still comes from encouraging others onto the court.

“What I love is seeing people give something a go,” she says. “You’re never too old to try something new.”