Surprise honour for retiring president

In the years that followed, all members of the Banks household played in the trademark ‘Cutters colours.

And Mel took on more and more responsibility as a member of the committee.

Due to retire as president at the club’s next annual general meeting, the Cutters could not let Mel end her final year in the top job without due recognition of her efforts over the years.

At the club’s presentation evening just over a week ago, they sprung a life membership on her.

“I was very surprised, but it was so exciting,” Mel said.

“On the night I said to someone ‘I know everything that goes on in this club’, and they later came back and said ‘no you don’t’.

“Jasmyne started minis as a five year old, and just loves her netball and still plays at Mathoura. She plays and coaches and does whatever else she can to help.

“I started helping in the canteen, and it was just natural progression from there.

“They needed people to help out, so I did it.

“When Tim McCormick was president (in 2014) he approached me and asked if I would be treasurer.

“I worked in a bank at the time, and I thought, ‘why not?’.”

Mel also spent some time as a player, joining a side in 2012 and winning a club best & fairest in the same year.

And the accolades and highlights kept coming for Mel.

“In 2014 I was the (Picola) league’s runner-up best & fairest for C-reserve, and that was a great honour.

“But probably the biggest highlight before this life membership was being named league Club Person of the Year in 2023.

“Now, with the life membership, the only thing I don’t have is a premiership.”

Mel said a highlight of her playing career was sharing the court with her daughter a few times, and the whole family being involved in the club.

“It’s pretty special to have a mother-daughter game.

“Our son Tom played under-14s at Mathoura, but didn’t go on because Mathoura did not have a thirds team.

“Our other son Brock played with Mathoura before joining the Deni Rovers for thirds. He was in the Rovers under-17s team which played Mathoura in the grand final.

“There is a bit of a friendly rivalry between Mathoura and Deni, but the Rovers treated him so well.

“Brock is in Queensland now and recently won a grand final with his team in Caloundra.

“Burt (my husband) also played footy in 2012 when they needed players, but otherwise he’s just supporting me in the background.

“I actually should have known something was happening at presentation night when he was so keen to come to presentation night.”

Mel said the Timbercutters have become like a second family to the Banks family, and have been particularly supportive while she battles breast cancer.

She said they’ve not only supported her emotionally, they’ve provided assistance in meeting the requirements of a president over the last 12 months while she’s been undergoing treatment.

“Given Jasmyne joined at such a young age, my children have literally grown up in the club.

“You do make some steep connections during that time, and they are like a family.

“The club has really kept me going over the last 12 months while I have been dealing with my health.

“I actually found the lump (in my breast) just before the annual general meeting last year.

“I wasn’t sure if I would be well enough to take on the president’s role while going through that, but I put my hand up and the club has just been awesome.

“They have been so understanding if I couldn’t attend meetings to help out as much as I would like.”

With her health battles ongoing, including chemotherapy treatment, Mel said she will take a step back from her committee roles in the next 12 months.

But she said she’ll still help her beloved club as much as she can in other ways.

“I am stepping down as president, but I have agreed to coach the C-reserve side, and help in other areas where possible,” she said.

“I have also said I would provide guidance to whoever takes over the role as president.”

• More Mathoura presentation night results, page 14.