Netball stalwart
‘‘Everyone knew Doreen and Doreen knew everyone’’.
As she walked through the doors of the Edgar Centre in Dunedin on a chilly Saturday morning, a wry smile would greet thousands of netballers as they prepared to take to the court.
They knew they were in good hands with Doreen Tucker in her rightful spot overseeing the games and meticulously reviewing every result with a fine-tooth comb.
Tucker was involved in netball for over 70 years, from playing for her beloved club, Albion, to umpiring and, most importantly, administration.
For over 20 years, Tucker ran the control room at the Edgar Centre, so it was only fitting when Dunedin Netball, during its centenary in 2015, renamed it the Doreen Tucker Control Room.
It is hard to capture the impact Tucker had in netball, but controlling over 53,000 games — that is over 500,000 players — was nothing short of remarkable.
But, in true fashion, Tucker downplayed her contribution when writing to thank Dunedin Netball general manager Lee-Anne Anderson.
‘‘For the title given to the control room, it is indeed an honour,’’ Tucker wrote.
‘‘I was overwhelmed by your thanks and feel that the little that I do did not deserve your gifts.’’
Perhaps that sums up Tucker best.
No-nonsense, hard-working and humble until the very end.
She grew up in Macandrew Rd, attended Forbury School, Macandrew Intermediate and Otago Girls’ High School, where her love of all sports began.
Through the years she worked in various sectors, notably at Wolfenden and Russell.
She married Les Tucker in March 1957, and together they built a home in Fairfield, where they remained until her husband died in 1976.
Following his death, Tucker moved in with her sister, Betty — who played cricket for New Zealand — her husband Bill, and children Robyn and Mark, for what was meant to be a short stay — but Tucker never left.
The sisters became a team — a package deal — and were influential on the netball court.
Tucker played for Albion from 1941 to 1978 and was still playing first grade at 34 in 1964, almost unheard of in those days.
Socially, the defender continued to play for Albion Red, retiring aged 56.
But her involvement in netball far outlasted her playing days.
Tucker umpired from 1947 to 1970 and sat on the Otago Netball umpires’ association committee from 1990 to 1993.
Nothing made her prouder than Albion, where she held several roles from 1948 until 2001, including committee member, secretary, treasurer and president.
She went on to play a significant role in the merger of Albion and University in 2001, where she became the first treasurer of University Albion.
And she washed every bib, dress and other piece of netball uniform through those years.
‘‘In an increasingly professional world, where most services were paid for, Doreen was the consummate volunteer,’’ Anderson said.
Administration was where Tucker thrived.
She held countless roles for Otago Netball, now known as Dunedin Netball, and was the draw steward from 1992 to 2000, and for the Masters Games in 2000, and she was the night leagues convener from 1998 to 2000 and the representative uniforms manager from 1992 to 2001.
From 2001 to 2012 she served on the Dunedin Netball committee, and, most notably, was the control room office manager from 1995 to 2015.
Words hardly suffice to describe Tucker’s contribution, but others have recognised her accordingly through the years.
She was acknowledged with a Dunedin Netball service award in 1992, and a prestige service award in 1999, and was made a life member in 2000.
In 2004 she was given a Netball New Zealand service award, and was made a life member of Netball South in 2013, before being awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to netball in 2017.
‘‘Doreen never claimed the limelight, in fact she shied away from being placed as the centre of attention,’’ Anderson said.
‘‘But she was incredibly proud of her Queen’s Service Medal.’’
But Tucker was as humble as ever when the Otago Daily Times spoke to her about the accolade in 2017.
‘‘Not that I consider I deserve it, but I’ll take it for everyone else that helped,’’ Tucker said.
Dunedin Netball also had a touching tribute to Tucker at its awards last month, presenting the Doreen Tucker Memorial Cup for contributions to both club and centre netball.
University Albion coach Janine Southby was the inaugural recipient.
Speaking at the funeral, Anderson said Tucker left an ‘‘indelible imprint’’ on Dunedin Netball.
‘‘Almost your entire life you were involved some way helping, assisting, offering support and advice, working away diligently in the background to ensure every single person that passed through the courts enjoyed that experience,’’ Anderson said.
‘‘There were very few people who were more willing to help in those [early] days when games were played outside in all kinds of weather conditions.’’
Outside of netball, Tucker loved cricket, playing for Albion from 1950 to 1964, turning out for for Otago six times and officiating Hallyburton Johnson games.
‘‘Knowing Doreen she would have given no favours to the local sides,’’ her brother, James Butler, said.
Basketball even benefited from her services, with Tucker washing the Otago Nuggets uniforms in the early 2000s.
She could often be found on the door collecting the entry fee — and nobody snuck past her.
But she had a fondness for all things musical and dance, travelling overseas to see productions of Mamma Mia! and the Royal Academy of Dance.
When her niece, Robyn Sinclair, started her own ballet studio, Tucker — known as Aunty Doreen to everyone — made the costumes for the dances.
Never one to miss a performance, Tucker sat up the front, had an eye for detail and became a stalwart costume maker for Musical Theatre Dunedin and Opera Otago.
That led to her ‘‘big break’’ in the musical theatre world, Tucker securing a well-deserved spot on the honours board as part of the esteemed ‘‘operatic Aunty club’’.
Described as a caring and unassuming character, Tucker also had a cheeky sense of humour and was never afraid to change the family quiz night answers if she thought she was right — even if it later turned out she was wrong.
She loved cross-stitch, knitting and jigsaws, and became an expert on horse racing, keeping a book of records for the family racing syndicate.
‘‘The tributes that have flowed are just mind-boggling,’’ her brother said.
‘‘No little brother could have wished for a better big sister.’’
Tucker died peacefully at Marne Street Hospital with her family by her side on September 25, aged 92.
She is survived by brother James, sisters-in-law Glenda and Marie, nieces and nephews Robyn, Mark, Donna, Shayne, Simon and Deidre, and her great-nieces and nephews.
