Queen's Birthday Honours: Lois Muir

By JULIE ASH

Her coaching career has spanned more than three decades, but the matriarch of New Zealand netball Lois Muir is not ready to retire to her rocking chair.

Muir was one of five people made distinguished companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the highest award given in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours.

Recognised for her services to netball and administration, Muir coached the New Zealand netball team for 15 years to 1988.

During this time, the team had 87 wins, five draws and only 10 losses in 102 tests.

She guided the Silver Ferns to two world championships - in 1979 when New Zealand finished first equal with Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, and in 1987, when New Zealand won outright.

Muir played netball and basketball for New Zealand, and has served as an administrator for Netball New Zealand, the Hillary Commission, the Sports Foundation, the Masters Games and the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, into which she was inducted in 1993.

"It is a lovely honour but it recognises a lot of other people in the sport as well, not just me," Muir said.

"I remember all the people who helped me when my children were little so I'd like to tell them they are all part of this, as is my husband, Murray, who has always been so supportive."#The world championship wins were the highlights of her career, Muir said, but she also got a lot of pleasure from seeing players she coached still involved in netball.

"Women like Tracey Fear, Yvonne Willering, Leigh Gibbs, Waimarama Taumaumu, Ruth Aitken, Lyn Gunson, Joan Hodson ... they are still in the game.

"That is exciting for me ... to see they still have a passion for it."##Muir has coached the Otago Rebels for the past four years and has no plans to retire from coaching.

"Don't even mention the rocking chair, I am not going there yet.

"I still get a buzz out of it, and I feel like I have a bit of unfinished business with this particular team."#Netball New Zealand chief executive Shelley McMeeken said Muir was the name everyone equated with netball.

"The award is a tribute to her immense contribution to netball, which stands at over 50 years," McMeeken said.

"We are incredibly delighted for her."#Long-time Silver Fern manager Sheryl Wells was also recognised in the honours list for her services to netball.

She was made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Wells was appointed the manager of the Silver Ferns in 1992, and has worked with four different coaches.

She has been on the management team to three Commonwealth Games, three world championships and several overseas tours, and has won several netball awards.