Dorothy “Dot” Lockwood gave her heart and soul to the advancement of Tamworth netball. And when she passed away last year, her life ledger full, her dedication to advancing positive change to the sport she loved was lauded in equal measure to her standing as a good person.
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Dorothy Lockwood was many things: wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, friend, netball official.
And at her core was a beautiful nature that washed over everyone she met and drew people to her.
The Tamworth netball community mourned in May last year following the passing of their long-serving incumbent president at age 83.
Dot was a towering figure in the sport who was, according to her daughter Robyn Roach, a humble person who valued fair play and good sportsmanship above being the best.
And she was “very passionate about everything she did”, Robyn said, adding that her mum worked as a causal teacher until age 79.
“They [her former students] said she was such an inspiration,” Robyn said.
“They visited her at hospital the last few weeks … They kept coming. We had to stop them [eventually] and say it was just for immediate family.”
Dot was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at the end of March last year.
In all, Dot served as Tamworth Netball Association president for more than 30 years in two stints – the last one commencing in 2000.
She was obviously hugely influential in the sport’s growth in the city – playing a key role in the development of the Carter Street netball complex and the sport’s transition to the Tamworth Sports Dome.
Robyn said Dot loved netball so much that her husband, Ken, became heavily involved in the sport and, like his wife, was honoured with life membership of the association.
“Dad knew that if he wanted to see Mum he had to be part of netball,” Robyn said, adding that Dot, Ken and her elder sister, Sue, ran the Thursday netball competition.
Sue Lockwood said the netball community was “another family” for her mum.
“She had so many people who approached her as family,” Sue said.
“Kids called her Nanny Dot and called Dad Grandad Ken and Poppy Ken.
“She had this way about her. She loved everybody and everybody loved her, and it didn’t matter what age they were.
“She always saw the best in people.”
