How did you come to play for PIC?
On arriving in New Zealand half way through 1994, 1 started asking varsity friends who the best netball club in Wellington was. Without fail, I was told that PIC was the one to go for, although their tone usually implied, "They've got skills, they've got guts and most of all they've got attitude!". Little did they know that this kind of never-say-die mind-set was exactly what I'd grown up with and exactly what I was looking for. OK, this is the embarrassing part that my mates love reminding me about. The following season, I saw an ad in the newspaper about "Smokefree PIC trials". How was I to know that this meant trials for the best of the best? So I promptly called up a very friendly lady (named Waimarama) who asked me a few questions and then said I could come and have a run the following Saturday I guess you can imagine how that went! I had been off netball for a season for knee surgery, and was pretty rusty Anyway, I remember warming up with Bella (who two years later became my coach - shame!) playing along side Tanya and marking Noeline I think. I nearly died of course, but I do remember my single intercept quite vividly. Perhaps the most embarrassing thing about the whole experience was asking current Silver Ferns how long they'd been playing for. How not to make a lasting impression! Of course, what I'd done only became apparent a few months later when I realised who Wai, Tanya, Noeline, Bella and everyone else was. I ended up in Prem. 3 with Kopu as my coach that season, and had one of the best years ever.
What are the highlights for you thus far?
On the business side of things, the 1998 season is shaping up very well without a loss, but it's not over 'till its over and we've still got some work to do.
I would have to say that my second season with PIC was brilliant. Bells was our coach and a few of us in the Prem 2 team had played together the previous year with Kopu. The defensive coaching I got from Bella was outstanding as were the rather rigorous fitness sessions at the Basin Reserve and 8km fun run (fun?) around the bays. We were able to take out our grade that season with only a single loss.
On the social side of things, my association with PIC has definitely been one of the most rewarding times I can remember. The friends I've made are truly friends for life that are straight up (sometimes a bit too straight, hey Anne), loyal and great fun. We've been through the best and worst of times together, the beginning of new lives and the end of others. It's been awesome from an "outsider's" point of view to experience the great diversity of cultures within this club. I've hangi'd with my Maori mates, had kava sessions with my Fijian mates, had far too much of Kopu's famous Rarotongan punch, sung "Shosholoza" with my Samoan buddies and had more than a few kanikani's with those crazy Pakeha girls (especially the ones from the South Island ... ).
But possibly the greatest highlight of them all, was the bet I made with my team in 1995 - whoever's team lost the World Cup had to buy the winner a drink. Let's just say that the Springboks earned me a really good night...
My vision for PIC
PIC has shown that our strength definitely lies in our diversity. A team will be stronger where Polynesian flair, South Island tenacity, North Island drive and other unique talents meet and work as one. Being a firm believer that sport is a metaphor for life, PIC is a club that can proudly stand as an example of what can be achieved by standing together.
With this in mind, my vision for this club involves building on the foundations set down for us by those that have gone before, while breaking new ground for those that will follow. It is my hope that PIC will continue to find ways to attract the most insightful coaches, the most committed managers, the most passionate supporters and the most skilled players. We will need to focus on the opportunities that the new millennium will offer netball in Wellington, New Zealand and globally and grab them with both hands (yes, like taking an intercept). One thing's for sure, PIC is nothing without its extended family. The roots of PIC, in the Church and the Pacific Island community, are to be treasured and nurtured. In so doing, the next generation will have the privilege of being part of a club that is about so much more than netball.

One of the hallmarks of our Club has always been the presence of our children at training, games and whilst traveling. After some discussion amongst our members it was agreed that PIC for the first time would front a school girl team for intermediate age girls for the 1994 season. We wanted our children to be active participants in the sport that commanded much of the time and energies of their mothers, grandmothers and aunties. Our children have been born and raised in PIC netball to the extent that many of our set plays are now a familiar sight in these young women's style of play
The youngest PIC team is our top performing team; consistently winning by large margins and attaining promotion almost every season. They are currently playing in the Collegiate 1(a) grade and although their average age is11 years, week in and week out they record winning margins of up to 30 points against teams with an average age of 14 or 15 years.
This is the only team in PIC that does not hold trials. Priority is given to daughters of past and current members; children Of our Church; and children from within our Pacific and Maori communities.



"As we celebrate our past, we are fortunate to be able to look positively towards our future with the caliber of young talent that we see in our youngest team.

Ariki Taru and Moera Thomas (pictured above) represent the third generation of Taru women who have played for PIC. While Ariki has now moved on to play for Wellington Girls College, Moera continues to turn out for PIC and holds the honor of being the youngest ever player to wear PIC colours. Moera was 8 years old when she first played for us and will have one more season before moving onto college.

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