Cake, balloons and sweets were the order of the day for all the teams who continued their regular weekly competitions at the complex.

Australian and NSW representative star Liz Ellis helped launch the 80th celebrations in Sydney for NSW Netball. With 106,000 members, the sport has the largest female sporting membership in the state.

In Tamworth, which has about 125 teams playing in its competitions this winter, TNA president Dot Lockwood was in a celebratory mood, helping cut the birthday cake in a clubhouse opened on September 2, 1989.

“We were all over the place before that,” Lockwood said.

She wasn’t sure exactly how old netball in Tamworth was, but said “it was going in the 60s”.

TNA rep team co-ordinator Kaye Sweeney was out umpiring with Robyn Ausling when the birthday photo was taken but she’s hoping the TNA has more to celebrate next weekend. The local association is sending under 12, 13, 14 and 15 teams to State age championships in Sydney.

“The 12s and 13s will be playing in Division 2 (Blacktown) and the 14s and 15s in Division 3 at at Penrith,’ Sweeney said.

“The 13s have been graded in Division 2 following their win in Division 3 last year. It will be a tough ask but I am sure they are up to the challenge. Also facing Division 2 will be our new team to rep netball, the 12s. They have been placed in Division 2 because of the success of last year’s 12-year-old team.”

She said all four sides faced a gruelling weekend, playing at least 25 games.