Lisa Beehag is one of the best netballers Sutherland Shire has ever produced but may never have played the sport had it not been for a schoolteacher with an eye for talent.
Ms Beehag, a Sylvania resident and president of Miranda Magpies Netball Club for the last four years, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours for service to netball.
"When I received the email, I thought it was a scam," she said.
"I started reading it and was blown away. I had no idea anyone had nominated me.
"There would be many people who helped me along the way who would be more deserving."
Ms Beehag started playing netball when she was 10.
"My parents weren't sporty, but Mrs Tickner at Kirrawee Public School called them and said, 'Lisa is quite good at netball and I think she could play in the Saturday competition,' " she said.
"Had she not made that call, I probably would never have played."
Ms Beehag played for Australia from 1987 to 1989, including captaining the team on a tour of China, and went on to top coaching positions in Australia and overseas.
She coached at Australian Institute of Sport, was assistant coach of the Australian team for six years and coach of the the NSW Swifts in 2012-2013 in the ANZ Championship.
Ms Beehag first represented Sutherland Shire when she was 13 and developed into a stand-out wing defence with a never-say-die attitude.
"Some might say I was feisty - I certainly didn't take a backward step," she said.
"I was always thinking, 'What do we do to win this game?' Within the rules, of course."
These days, Ms Beehag is devoted to helping other young netballers enjoy the game she loves.
Miranda Magpies is one of the shire's largest netball clubs, with over 350 players last season.
At the annual general meeting late last year, Ms Beehag stepped back to the vice-president position due to other commitments.
Ms Beehag said netball was facing increasing competition from all codes of football, but AFL was a particular threat because the best players have a similar body type to netballers.
"If I was a youngster growing up today with all the those sports I would think it was amazing," she said.
"As much as I want to see girls playing netball, I am happy to see them playing any team sport.
"Sport is so important for their self belief as well as their fitness, and I think it contributes a lot to society."
