She is the pulse of the Port Pirie netball programming, the familiar face at the Port Pirie Netball Association’s office window and a well-known personality in the Port Pirie Sporting Association.
Pam Ashman, 62, has dedicated many years of her life to the Port Pirie Netball Association, joining the committee in 1992.
In 1995, she took on the role of program secretary and in 1998 also took on the position of treasurer.
She holds the position of program secretary/ treasurer today.
Mrs Ashman is the brains trust behind the weekly netball program, which includes the mammoth task of allocating umpires, courts and times for about 95 teams.
What’s more, she has a pivotal role in collating all the scorecards and keeping the records of all grades premiership points.
The efficient administrator’s netball commitment takes up all of Saturday along with Sunday and an extra four to five hours a week at home.
A Life Membership was justly awarded to her in 2001.
There are few challenges Mrs Ashman fears however there is one barrier in her life, the ‘monster’ computer.
“The committee know I am happy to stay on as program secretary/treasurer so long as they don’t make me use one,” she said.
“I like to write everything down so I can see it.”
“Anyway you can’t count money on a computer.”
Born in Port Germein to Cora and Harry Bessen, Mrs Ashman grew up with siblings Margaret (Stanwix), Don, Ray, Thelma (Gould), Kenny and Alan who are all well-known in Port Pirie sporting circles.
“Mum was a tennis champion and Dad a footballer who was known to play without football boots,” said Mrs Ashman.
When she was eight-years-old the family moved to Port Pirie and she made friends with Margaret Evans (now Harvey).
“Fifty-four years later we are still friends and we also work together,” Mrs Ashman said.
In 1968 she married Dennis Ashman and they have three children Craig, Louise (Pollard) and Rob who have given them six grandchildren.
“I am lucky to have them all living in Pirie, they are a big part of my life,” Mrs Ashman said.
Mrs Ashman played netball and later started coaching when her daughter played for Airdale Primary School and continued to coach the school’s netball teams for another ten years.
She proudly announces that some of the players from the combined junior teams she coached went on to be A grade champions.
Past Player of the Year Bec Adams was under the guidance of Mrs Ashman and has claimed that Pam Ashman was the biggest influence in her netball career.
Mrs Ashman’s husband has been racing pigeons for 50 years and she feeds and waters them and clocks them in.
When her husband asks her which one came in first, she points and says, “I think it is that one.”
“They all look the same to me.”
Mrs Ashman joined the Port Pirie Sporting Association committee in 1990 after they had assisted with funds for her daughter Louise and niece Kathy Gould who were chosen to represent South Australia in table tennis.
She has been the secretary/treasurer for the past ten years, a position she still holds and was justly awarded a life membership to the organisation in 2000.
For many years the hard worker was instrumental in organising the annual Sportsman’s Dinner until last year when the Port Football and Community Sporting Club offered sponsorship and now organise the meals.
Her involvement in the Sporting Association has given her the opportunity to be “up close and personal” with Mark Bickley, Mark Davis, Phil Smyth and Tony Modra who have been guest speakers.
Being a huge fan of Modra, a highlight of Mrs Ashman’s life was meeting her idol and having her photo taken with him.
A keen Crows supporter, Mrs Ashman was thrilled to be at the Crows first premiership match in 1997.
The Sporting Association has recently lost two of its committee members, John Magor and Moira Buchanan.
“It is very sad personally and a great loss to the Sporting Association and the community,” Mrs Ashman said.
Adding to her incredible volunteering, this amazing woman has been the coordinator for the Coles Relay for Life team for the past six years.
She became involved because both her parents died from cancer, sadly within 18 months of each other.
Learning a little more about Mrs Ashman, she said she loved watching cricket but only when Steve Waugh played and she taped every ball when he hit his 100 on the last ball of the day.
She was ready to tape the next day session when Waugh was out for a duck on the first ball.
Proudly hanging on her wall is a huge framed Steve Waugh memorabilia.
“I have got all his books but I haven’t read any,” she confesses.
She likes watching the fancy cooking shows but says she is only a plain cook.
With no regrets, her years involved in netball have been very rewarding, interacting with the people that come through the netball gate each week.
“I get abused a bit but that is expected,” she said.
However she feels privileged when the young players recognise her from netball and speak to her outside of the complex.
To validate her commitment and dedication to administration, the dependable volunteer won the 2002 Administrator of the Year.
Mrs Ashman is content and happy
in her life and said that she has no desire to travel anywhere because everything she wants and needs is in Port Pirie.
She has been the nuts and bolts of two strong associations and has built strong and lasting friendships.
Filled with a great love for her family and her netball family she announced that her life has been very rewarding.
“I am just a normal, ordinary person who loves her family and friends,” Mrs Ashman said. “I have had a very fulfilling life”.
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