My Life of Sport

MY LIFE OF SPORT   by Rona McCarthy

While still at high school I was training every evening but became tired of sprinting and so took to the long jump, lost interest and often thought I would like to be a hurdler but ladies did not hurdle except in South Africa.

My dad and I spent many hours researching in the library finding measurements etc and my training began. Then other provinces asked me to come and demonstrate. More ladies began hurdling in NZ and I had competition at the trials for the Empire Games but won and made the NZ team. In Sydney I was third.

Athletics was my summer interest and basketball (now called netball) was my winter one. After a few years I became a coach/player.

I was selected [to] join the NZ tean [team] to go to Australia but we played 9 aside and they played the new 7 aside, so the tour did not eventuate but I represented Hawkes Bay many times. After my playing days I coached netball for many years.

In 1997 I was honoured by the Queen with an M.B.E. for my life of sport.

Rona Mc Carthy now lives in Mary Doyle in apartment 110. Along with her sporting memorabilia. Ed.

[Handwritten – Taken July 2012.]

Photo captions –

On the podium

My medal

Rona in her original NZ Blazer and her M.B.E.