Learning sewing from her mother, and making her own clothes, she then studied design at the Wellington High School.

She began her working life as a machinist at a clothing factory, playing netball in her spare time.

She was first selected for the national team in 1974, making her debut against Singapore in October of that year and forming a defensive pairing with Yvonne Willering.

At that time there were no finals and the top ten teams played a Round-robin tournament that resulted in New Zealand, Australia and the hosts sharing the gold medal.

The game against Trinidad and Tobago was controversial as Willering knocked over the local star Jean Pierre and the spectators became very aggressive.