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 juniors 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.
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
1995 Tracey Andriske, Jennie-Lee Kennett, Kerryn Roberts, Bernie Keech, Helen Keech, Megan Griffin, Neralie Rowan and Carla Griffin all make Association teams – and NENA won the marching trophy! The negotiations regarding gate takings with the Footy Club begins…. And continues to this day!!
1999 Netball results were read out at Presentations! Janet gains her B Grade Umpires Badge Joint Windup with Footy Club
2000 Inaugural Heather Griffin Volunteer of the Year Award – won by Janet Zweck
2001 Proposed to change practise night to be the same as footy
2003 Mock Wedding with the Footy Club
2004 After more than 18 months of debate we purchased new body suits, subsidising the price - $80 each We adopt the slogan “Don’t pat these Cats”
2006 We have a website! Simone Bigg putting in a huge amount of time collating history & Belinda Stringer updating current information. Adopt a Code of Conduct and Life Member Criteria
2008 Ashley Hentschke recruits Maggie Nicholson and a new era begins for BSNC as she recruits her sister and the 3 Johnson sisters from Adelaide. Our first Life Memberships are awarded to Janet Zweck, Cathy Agnew, Denby Wandel, Carley Darling and Tracey Andriske,
2009 The first A1 Premiership for the Blyth Snowtown Netball Club. Slip Darling appointed as A2 Coach , a ground-breaking decision! Infamous Player’s Review performance by the A1 team
2010 Umpire Development program implemented
2011 We become a Good Sports Club
2012 Kerry-Lee Welke receives Life Membership
2013 New tunic uniform purchased adopted an mainly aqua base. Carley Darling NENA Volunteer of the Year
2014 New Junior uniform introduced. Whole Club trainings introduced. The Blyth Snowtown A1 team finally beat the Blyth Netball Club record of 5 A1 Premierships in a row, winning their 6th consecutive (& final) premiership.
2015 Terrible run of injuries combined with pregnancies and players relocating saw 13 players out of the A squad, the club starts rebuilding and only takes a few years to get back to being highly competitive. Inaugural Youth Volunteer of the Year Award to Caitlyn Pink
2015 our club NENA Executives - President Kerry-Lee Welke, Secretary Simone Bigg. Treasurer Bernie Altmann, Recorder Kristin Carling, Reporter Rhiannon Michael.
2015 Lauren Collins wins a premiership for Matrix in the Premier League Reserves Grand Final as GA, Matrix 57 - Contax 47. Chris Ashby and Sharon Higgs begin to look after football and netball players children whilst they train to encourage everyone to play sport. Named ‘Cats Creche’, the trial in February 2015 was a huge success. Chrissy and Shaz continue to offer this amazing service each season at the time of writing this (2023). Lily Stirling offers her time to help also.
2016 The football and netball clubs join to establish the Blyth Snowtown Cats Social Club consisting of a committee of netball and football members aimed to create fun events and a great source of fundraising. Kerry-Lee Welke is the NENA Volunteer of the Year
2016 21st Birthday Celebration!! A huge effort from the sub-committee compiling the extensive history of the club - Thank you to Sue Pratt, Denby Wandel, Bec Jamieson (President), Tracey Andriske, Simone Bigg, Janet Zweck and Alice Williams. Sharon Higgs capturing the night with lots of photos. Three Life Members inducted - Bernie Altmann, Simone Bigg and Sue Pratt
2017 Netball and Football members run teas together at the Snowtown Pavilion for Thurs trainings and Saturday home games. A great place to gather and a major fundraiser for all. Kerry-Lee Welke & Tahlia Tilley gain their C grade umpiring badge
2018 The B1s claim back-to-back premierships. Another amazing volunteer, Simone Bigg is NENA Volunteer of the Year. First Catlow (Brownlow) senior football and netball presentations held at the Blyth Hall, cocktail dress, $40pp.
2019 On the 25th of September the Blyth Netball courts officially open their 3rd court. Facilitated by Tracey Andriske (a good 5 years of campaigning), who was also awarded life Membership of the Blyth Netball Club.
2020 on May 19 NENA voted that in the best interest of our communities safety and well being, due to Covid-19 restrictions around the immediate future of returning to playing netball, the 2020 netball season, both Junior and Seniors competitions will NOT go ahead. However, NEFL continues junior and senior competition. Zoom meetings were the norm for our committee meetings.
2021 Supercoach Bernie Altmann leads the B1s to another premiership. The A2s also break a 12 year drought to bet Nth Clare and claim victory. Three NENA trophies - A2 B&F Hayley Zweck, B1 B&F Neve Pratt & B2 R/up Alycia Zweck.
2022 Valarie Ciardiello is awarded Life Membership. North and South Clare use Blyth Oval/Courts for the 2022 and half 2023 season whilst the Clare redevelopment is being constructed. Moving most of our home games to Snowtown. Maddy Zweck & Sam Twamley gain their C Grade umpiring badge. Whilst country loses their Academies, Millie Roberts is selected in the inaugural Thunderbirds Talent academy.
Netball SA increased affiliation fees significantly post-Covid (2016 were Seniors $50 & Juniors $41) Now Seniors NSA fee $101 (plus Netball Aust $5 & NENA $5) - Senior Subs are $111! Blyth Snowtown NC continue to choose to not make any money from subs to try to keep participation affordable (it was $5pp pre-Covid). Juniors subs are $93.
2023 Our club NENA Executives, President Bianca Henderson, Secretary Alice Williams, Treasurer Cherie Stirling, Recorder Kristin Carling (again!) Reporter Hayley Zweck. Bernie Altmann plays her 450th senior game (Snowtown NC & BSNC combined). Sponsorship Coordinators AJ Wood BSFC & Hayley Zweck BSNC join their sponsorship programs and go online! A new website is created by Hayley Zweck with the initial set-up by Ashley Schultz (Little Ivy) and a grant from the Wakefield Regional Council. A vision to streamline sponsorship payments, merchandise orders, registrations, a one stop shop for all current information, including rosters and importantly maintain a rich database of all netball and football achievements.