Friday November 6, 2009
For immediate release

Golden Oldies Netballers think Queenstown’s a hit

Queenstown’s stunning scenery and adventurous atmosphere has been a hit with the Golden Oldies Netball ladies – with many already planning a return trip.

Hutt Hurtz team member Judy Walley can’t wait to come back. The Hutt Valley great grandmother has played in 21 Golden Oldies Netball Festivals and says Queenstown stands out as being the most spectacular.

“This has been my first trip here and I’ve loved it,” she says. “As I’ve gotten older I’ve become more adventurous and to be able to do things like paragliding in such an amazing setting is great.”

Mrs Walley is one of the 500 participants from five countries, in this year’s Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Netball Festival which kicked off in Queenstown last Sunday and the final day of play wraps up today (Friday). A gala dinner and awards ceremony will be held at the Events Centre on Saturday.

Destination Queenstown General Manager Marketing Graham Budd says the opportunity to host another Golden Oldies Festival has been once again fantastic for the region.

“Following on from the success of last year’s Golden Oldies Cricket Festival, the netball competition has also generated thousands of bed nights for Queenstown,” he said.

“The Festival programme combines a good mix of playing and leisure days so players and supporters can take advantage of the wide range of activities in the region.

“From the perspective of DQ’s strategy, the Golden Oldies Netball Festival ticks all the right boxes by attracting long staying visitors who spend money in and around town in a shoulder season.”

This is only the third time in 26 years the Festival has come to New Zealand, returning to its birth place for the first time since Christchurch in 1990. The biennial netball world festivals have been held in Auckland, Vancouver, Brisbane (twice), Christchurch, Rarotonga (twice), Singapore, Fiji, Adelaide, Hawaii and Perth.

ENDS