FOUNDATION MEMBERS
People Who Make Us Great
NATIONAL ‘A’ BADGED UMPIRE – Haydn Mackay
Haydn has been associated with Comets over 27 years. The child of a netball mum, he watched his mother, Rosalie Mackay, playing in the A grade competition, learning from the sidelines, taking on so much information he gained his National ‘C’ badge at 12 years of age! Haydn & his brothers also played for Comets when the Association ran all men and mixed netball games in summer competitions, continuing to play beyond the Association. These days Haydn umpires Premier League at Homebush during the week, and on Saturdays returns his time to the ‘grass roots’ to umpire and mentor at Curl Curl. Haydn is Comets first National ‘A’ Badged umpire. We are very proud of him & will be watching to see where he goes next.
NATIONAL ‘B’ BADGED UMPIRES – Lisa Davison and Kimberley Randall
Lisa has been playing with Comets since netta days. Kimberley joined Comets in 2013. Both are strong players with a natural flair for leadership, and have been successful team managers for many years.
In 2019 Kimberley became Comets Umpires Convenor, having gained her National ‘B’ badge in 2018. She is an inspiring mentor. Under her care & direction, Comets has had many talented umpires take the next step towards badging. Those same qualities Kimberley has given to MWNA in her role as a member of MWNA Umpires Committee since 2019.
One of those to emerge under Kimberley’s leadership was another leader & role model, Lisa Davison, who began helping Kimberley with Comets umpiring convener’s duties, also became a member of MWNA Umpires’ Committee in 2020. In this year Lisa gained both her National’C’ and National ‘B’ badges and received Umpire of the Year.
Lisa has since become MWNA Umpires’ Committee for 2021, making a strong start in that role.
TREASURER, UMPIRES REP, PLAYER – Alicia Chubb
Alicia has been playing with Comets since 2010. When something extra needs to be done, Alicia is there. She has been an official in whatever team she has played with and has been an amazing worker in getting umpires organised every week for teams other than her own.
Alicia has been a Comets delegate to MWNA meetings and 2024 is her 10th year as Treasurer at Comets. We are so grateful for her can do attitude and for her unwavering commitment to Comets in each and every capacity she has been involved in.
COACH & PLAYER, MENTOR & PARENT – Kerry Edwards
Kerry has been associated with Comets since 2010. Her passion for coaching is obvious, her love of the game expressed through the number of games she played during the week, indoor & outdoor! She worked for an executive coaching company, so lots of scope for learning skills at the intellectual end of coaching.
Kerry is self motivated, researching on the internet, watching the ANZ for ideas, using her own experiences, putting them into action with her team. Her enthusiasm is shared by the family; the budding sideline umpire & keen statistician, both contributing to the informed coaching practices Kerry’s team receives. Consequently, the girls’ skills have increased with resulting successes. The same energy & drive for excellence has also produced a team of very talented young umpires under Kerry’s positive leadership and mentoring skills.
PARENT & COACH, PLAYER & MENTOR – Lee Rickers
Lee has been associated with Comets since 2008. Such is her enthusiasm for coaching, Lee travelled to Sutherland to complete a 2 day Course in 2010, gaining coaching accreditation at ‘Development’ level.
Lee’s talents are also in umpiring, where she mentors young players under her care to a very competent level of performance.
Lee has been an official in all teams she has been connected with since coming into Comets, a quiet achiever, setting herself tough goals in personal performance, the Oxfam Walk from Hawkesbury to Mosman, setting an impressive example in toughness and resilience, planning & preparation.
From 2014 – 2017, Lee was involved with MWNA All Abilities Netball programme which won the One Community Netball Award from Netball Australia. Lee has also run a very popular Comets Netsetgo programme for u6s for several years.
COACH & UMPIRE, PLAYER, MENTOR & PARENT – Michelle Loft
Michelle began playing for Comets in 1997, only taking time off to have children. Her 2 girls both started with Comets. In her last team, AR4, Michelle was wearing the new tunic. Back in this grand final photo (left), she wears the skirt & shirt Comets began in.
Michelle coached a 10D in the first year she joined Comets & has been an official from that time to now. Many Comets teams have had the benefit of her coaching over the years. From 2014 – 2016 she coached 1-2 junior teams, & was always a working official in her own team while also mentoring our young umpires.
Michelle has her National ‘C’ badge, an appropriate recognition for a valuable and versatile member. In 2014 & again in 2017, Michelle continues to be a member of MWNA Umpires Committee. Michelle moved away from the area but is still an active participant on Comets
CLUB FOUNDER & LIFE MEMBER – Michele McKay
As a Comets Club Founder and Life Member, Michele has a long history with the club, initially as a player, starting out in netball admin as a delegate for Cromer in the late 70s, then a Comets delegate from 1980. Michele was Comets President from 1996 – 2006 and has been Umpires Convenor from 2007 to 2017 and Secretary since 2007 and remains in the position in 2024.
Michele has held various positions in Manly Warringah Netball Association since 1980, including three MWNA Executive positions, Assistant Secretary, Minute Secretary and Coaches Convenor with several years as manager of State Age & State League teams. She has Level 1 Coaching accreditation, Level 1 Strength & Conditioning accreditation, Level 2 Coaching Principles and Level 1 in Administration. Michele was awarded the MWNA Beryl Gartner Outstanding Service to Coaching Award in 2004, the MWNA Service Award in 2005 & in 2009 won MWNA Club Umpires’ Convenor Award & the M.W.N.A Marjory Simmonds Excellence in Administration Award, also 2009.
PARENT & OFFICIAL, MENTOR & COACH – Gai Duncan
A member of Comets from 1995 and earlier, back to the days when phone numbers had 7 digits not 8… no dated records exist to see how far back! In all that time she has always been a keen supporter of all club initiatives.
Gai was initially a player, then began coaching for the first time in the Night Comp of 2002, then the winter competitions 2005 – 2007, moving into the position of Umpires Rep for her daughter’s teams or her own.
Gai is a regular volunteer as a mentor for Comets junior umpires.
PARENT & OFFICIAL & COACH – Kelly Emerson
A member of Comets for 10+ years, initially in 2004 when her oldest daughter joined nettas. In 2005 Kelly took up her first official’s job, manager, & continued there until she took on Umpires Rep in 2009, finally coaching in 2010.
Kelly’s teams thrive under her calm & gentle leadership. Over the years she has taken on nettas up to 17s, always very involved in their umpiring development.
Behind the scenes, Kelly is our dream parent, always supportive, always ready to help out. No job is ever too difficult, and always done with a smile.
In 2013 Kelly was the first person to be awarded the Peter Clarke Award.
COACH, PLAYER, UMPIRE, MWNA BUSINESS MANAGER - Jack Edwards
Jack has been associated with Comets since 2010, another sidelines child soaking up netball, watching his mother play, assisting her to coach his sister’s teams. Coaching and drills and a stats man from early days!
In 2015, he earned his National ‘C’ Badge in record time, & in 2020 gained Development Coaches Accreditation. Jack brought basketball experience to netball, initially in a mixed comp at NBISC with family members. Soon to be spotted by a talent scout, he became the youngest player to be trialling successfully for NSW Men’s U17 team. His first national netball tournament was in Melbourne, with another State Tournament to come, culminating in Jack being selected to represent in the beloved green and gold, representing the Under 17s Sonix squad with a trip to New Zealand, and another tournament win.
Jack has now represented NSW for both Men’s and Indoor Mixed a total of 10 times, progressing through the Under 17s to Under 23s before being selected in the NSW Men’s Open team in 2019, with a further two caps for the Sonix under his belt as well. And recently took the court in an exhibition game against the NSW Swifts!
In his 6 years of coaching, he has taken on more than 1 team each season, taking two Comets teams through to MWNA final series wins with his most recent proteges now in A grade and The President’s cup.
Currently he works for MWNA as the first MWNA Business Manager bringing the same energy and enthusiasm as for his other netball interests.