Volleyball elections

Press, 23 October 1989, Page 18

Volleyball elections

By

GARY BIRKETT

Sweeping changes were made at the recent annual meeting of the New Zealand Federation of Volleyball Clubs in Wellington. Five new members were voted on to the management committee and a new president, Graeme Steel, of Wellington, was elected. The long-serving Auckland administrator, Ben Benacek, who was the chairman of the management committee, was not re-elected. The new chairman is Don Hamilton, of Christchurch, who is one of two vice-presidents. The other is Bill Turnbull of Dunedin.

Mr Steel, a former captain of the men’s national team, is a development officer for the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.

Other members of the committee are lan Whitehead (Christchurch), Phil Merritt (Tauranga), Barry Williams (Tauranga), Tony Barnett (Christchurch), Cynthia Jillings (Christchurch) and John Hall (Wellington), who is the national men’s coach. John Drummond, of Christchurch, is the immediate past president The new committee is determined to raise the profile of volleyball, which has suffered from

some lacklustre administration in recent years. Mr Steel said the sport has gained a secure foothold in schools and New Zealand teams were now starting to achieve good results against top Asian teams and Australian sides.

He is excited by the new Blue Hawaii beach circuit which is being introduced this summer. He said it promises to generate a lot of public interest, given its major sport status in the United States, South America and Australia. Mr Steel said that the new members of the committee would bring a fresh and positive approach to the sport