Two of Netball PNG’s greats have left behind a legacy that current netball generations can be proud of.
The passing of Netball PNG’s longest life serving member, late Emily George Taule and former PNG Pepes goal shooter, former Telstars player and coach, late Lydia Veali has been described by one of their closest friend and sister-like figure, Iammo Launa as a big loss for the netball fraternity.
“They both have a legacy…the people that they got themselves involved with as coaches and administrator, late Emily has done a lot in terms of getting the current Netball PNG Board to where it is now under the leadership of president Ulato Avei,” said Launa.
Launa says both ladies (late Emily and late Lydia) have contributed so much to the sport of netball administratively and as players.
“Lydia was a young girl back then we both played together for Telstars. She (Lydia) back then represented the country for a good number of years and contributed superbly as one of our best shooters in the old days, long range shooter and smart netballer.
After playing for so many years she retired and shifted into coaching and she has been coaching with Telstars and also Rigo netball.”
“With Emily, she is one of the longest serving administrator and she was my coach in the 1981 Mini Games and also president of the Netball federation. She then become a netball selector and currently a board member of the Netball PNG.
She served in different capacity as a netball administrator. She was recently made a life member of Netball PNG earlier this year.”
“We are missing this two very important women who have the heart for netball, their passion for netball.
They live and sleep netball and we will miss them dearly,” says Launa.
In the Port Moresby netball association, late Emily’s legacy with Rebels netball club as well as late Lydia’s involvement with Telstars is something special as highlighted by Launa.
“Emily established Rebels club and she served this club for over 20 years and Lydia’s involvement with Telstars saw us won almost over thirty premierships and we were both with the club for so long.
She stayed on with the club (Telstars) as a coach and also helping Rigo netball association.
She was the one who took out Rigo district team to Alotau and they won the netball title during the Southern Regional Youth Games.”
Launa said there are so many fond memories shared with the two ladies.
“Emily is so funny and very much intelligent, she’s been guiding Netball PNG board with a lot of policy guidelines because she is the most experienced administrator and also her involvement with Transparency International.”
“On behalf of Netball PNG, president Ulato Avei and all the board members and staff including Telstars and Rigo netball association, I convey our deepest condolences to the immediate families.
It is the timing of what happens that breaks our heart, the two of them should be here like one of them watching on from the courtside while the other is coaching.
You are all not alone in this mourning time, we do share the pain and sorrow you go through,” says Launa.