It was fitting the trailblazing international umpire and umpire coach was recognised for her long-standing involvement at the Silver Ferns test in Invercargill on Sunday.
Bond is moving on after more than a decade serving on World Netball’s international testing panel and international umpire assessment panel.
She has played an integral role in setting world standards, supporting international tournaments and guiding the development of international umpires to the elite level across the world.
Bond, who umpired at the Netball World Cup in 2003 before hanging up the whistle herself, has been instrumental in helping Eastern Southland umpires in particular succeed.
Through her support and encouragement, Gore has produced five international umpires, including Alison Cormack, Bobbi Brown, Jono Bredin and Kristie Simpson.
She has also been a key figure in the career of Queenstown umpire Sasha McLeod, who umpired at the Netball Youth World Cup recently.
Bond, who is Netball South’s umpire lead, will still be found on the sidelines throughout New Zealand, supporting local and national umpires coming through the ranks.
