A leading figure in the sport for over 40 years, Tracey Fear ONZM has been awarded Life Membership of Netball New Zealand (NNZ) in recognition of the immense contribution she has made to the game.

Across the diverse roles of player, coach, administrator and strategist, Tracey has cast a considerable imprint across the netball landscape, both nationally and internationally.

With an unwavering commitment and non-stop perseverance across a variety of roles and netball communities during her lengthy involvement, Tracey has enlightened and enhanced netball, while adding considerably to the sport’s evolution.

Netball NZ President Tina Karaitiana paid tribute to Tracey.

“Tracey is one of the most complete contributors this sport has ever seen in New Zealand," said Smith.

"What makes her truly exceptional is the breadth of her impact. She has given everything to netball as a player, a coach, an administrator and a mentor, and the sport is immeasurably better for it. This recognition is thoroughly deserved and we’re extremely proud to celebrate her contribution."

Tracey was a World Championship winner in 1987, named in Netball NZ’s Team of the Century in 1999, received a Netball NZ Service Award in 2012, and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2018.

Australian-born, Tracey first made her mark as a player as an integral part of a dominant Waikato team during the 1980s, re-defining the goalkeeper position in the process while also fashioning the hallmarks of her burgeoning influence in netball.

Becoming Silver Fern #72 in 1982, Tracey was without peer in the custodian’s position of goalkeeper throughout the 1980s, both domestically and internationally, adding a new dynamic to the role through her aerial skills and mobility.

A defining figure of her era, Tracey was part of an all-conquering Silver Ferns team, who won the 1985 World Games title, and in a personal career highlight, the 1987 World Tournament. Her leadership and experience were invaluable to the team’s transition post-1987 when she was appointed Silver Ferns captain in 1988.

Finishing her playing career the same year, Tracey quickly transitioned into coaching, beginning with club and provincial teams while also serving as NZA coach and co-coach of the NZU21 team, before becoming a fulltime Netball Development Officer with NNZ in 1995. 

Further bolstering her coaching credentials, Tracey completed post-graduate diplomas in Business Management and Sports Studies, paving the way for a move into high performance administration.

As High Performance Director at NNZ for 12 years (2000 – 2012), Tracey led the development and implementation of successive four-year high performance strategic plans for the Silver Ferns and NZU21 teams.

Tracey was central to campaign planning for three Commonwealth Games (2002, 2006, 2010) which yielded two gold and one silver medal, as well as three Netball World Cup campaigns (2003, 2007, 2011), resulting in one gold and two silver medals.

She was also involved in three Netball World Youth Cups which secured a full set of medals across those events.

Tracey’s lengthy 18-year stint in the High Performance Director and Netball Development Officer roles at NNZ helped to set the platform for the adoption of a more professional approach from netball.

Looking for a fresh challenge and continuing to spread her wings, Tracey spent four years in the country of her birth as Performance and Pathway Manager of Netball Queensland and General Manager of High Performance at Netball NSW between 2018 and 2022.

In recent years, Tracey has operated as a High Performance Consultant which has included  roles with World Netball and delivering high performance strategic plans in the Americas region with the aim of improving international performance. Thirteen countries, including Canada, the US, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Argentina participated.

In the region where netball first became deeply imbedded in her life, Tracey has also recently been involved with Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty, where she has worked on identifying and developing a Performance Plan for the Zone.

A standout player of her generation, Tracey seamlessly transitioned her on-court abilities to delivering exceptional and enduring outcomes off-court. The betterment of netball has always been front and centre for Tracey and she remains a tireless advocate for the sport.