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Bernice Mene

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Bernice Mene
MNZM
Personal information
Full name Bernice Papasina Mene[1][2]
Born (1975-01-18) 18 January 1975 (age 49)
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
School Villa Maria College
University Victoria University
Dunedin College of Education
Spouse Dion Nash
Relatives Sally Mene (mother)
Chris Sua'mene (brother)
Netball career
Playing position(s): GD, GK
Years Club team(s) Apps
1992–1994 Canterbury NPC
1995–1996 Wellington NPC
2000 Southland NPC
1998–2002 Southern Sting
Years National team(s) Caps
1992–2001 New Zealand 76
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
World Youth Netball Championships
Gold medal – first place 1992 Suva Team
Silver medal – second place 1996 Toronto Team
World Netball Championships
Silver medal – second place 1999 Christchurch Team
Bronze medal – third place 1995 Birmingham Team
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 1998 Kuala Lumpur Team
World Games
Silver medal – second place 1993 The Hague Team

Bernice Papasina Mene MNZM (born 18 January 1975) is a former New Zealand netball international. Between 1992 and 2001, Mene made 76 senior appearances for New Zealand. She represented New Zealand at the 1993 World Games, the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships. She captained New Zealand during 2000 and 2001 seasons. Between 1998 and 2002, during the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup era, she captained Southern Sting as they won four premierships. In 2003, Mene was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to netball. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.

Early life, family and education

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Mene is the daughter of Iafeta Sua'Mene and Sally Mene. She is of Samoan descent. Her father, also known as Mene Mene, migrated from Samoa. Her parents were both athletes and they both represented New Zealand at the 1974 Commonwealth Games. Her father competed in the decathlon while her mother competed in both the javelin and discus. She has two brothers who are also athletes. Chris Sua'mene represented Samoa in the discus at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and Nathan Sua'Mene represented Samoa in the high jump at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.[3][4][5][6][7][8] Between 1988 and 1992, Mene attended Villa Maria College, Christchurch.[5][9][10][11] Between 1995 and 1996 she attended the Victoria University of Wellington where she gained a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics.[11] In 2009 she received the university's Distinguished Alumni Award.[12][13] Between 1999 and 2000 she attended the Dunedin College of Education where she gained a Diploma in Secondary Education and Teaching.[11] In March 2003, she married Dion Nash, a former New Zealand cricket international. Together they have three children.[14][15][16][17] In 2010 Mene posed topless while heavily pregnant, Demi Moore-style for New Zealand Woman's Weekly.[18]

Playing career

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National Provincial Championships

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In 1992, aged just 16, Mene made her senior debut for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championships. She played for Canterbury between 1992 and 1994, Wellington in 1995 and 1996 and Southland in 2000.[5][19]

Southern Sting

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Between 1998 and 2002, Mene played for Southern Sting in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league.[3][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] She captained Sting as they won four premierships, winning titles in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.[22][27][28][29] Mene was one of the first professional netball players in New Zealand.[30][31] She retired from senior netball at the end of the 2002 season.[9][32][33] On 23 July 2018, Mene, together with Donna Wilkins, Belinda Colling and Natalie Avellino, played for Sting in a charity match against Netball South of the National Netball League. The match marked Sting's 20th anniversary.[34][35] In April 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.[36][37]

New Zealand

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Between 1992 and 2001, Mene made 76 senior appearances for New Zealand. On 7 November 1992, aged just 17, she made her senior debut against England during an away tour. At the time she was still attending Villa Maria College. She had previously represented New Zealand at the 1992 World Youth Netball Championships.[5][9][38][39] She subsequently represented New Zealand at the 1993 World Games,[40] the 1998 Commonwealth Games[41][42] and the 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships.[43][44] She captained New Zealand at the 1996 World Youth Netball Championships.[45] In 1997, aged just 22, she captained the senior New Zealand team for the first time. During her playing career Mene, regularly suffered with a degenerative knee condition. Shortly after being first appointed captain, she had an injury-enforced break. She again captained New Zealand during 2000 and 2001 seasons. In 2001 she captained New Zealand as they won a Tri Nations Series that also featured Australia and South Africa. In February 2002, she announced her retirement from international netball.[5][16][38][39]

Tournaments Place
1992 World Youth Netball Championships[39] 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1993 World Games[40] 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
1995 World Netball Championships[43][44][46] 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
1996 World Youth Netball Championships[45] 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
1998 Commonwealth Games[41][42] 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
1999 World Netball Championships[43][44][47][48][49] 2nd place, silver medalist(s)

Teacher

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During the early 2000s, Mene worked as a teacher at Mount Albert Grammar School. Her subjects included French, German and English. In 2000 she established the MAGS Netball Academy. Subsequent graduates of the academy have included Maria Tutaia, Maia Wilson, Jamie-Lee Price and Erikana Pedersen.[5][20][50][51]

Television

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In 2005, Mene was a contestant on New Zealand's Dancing with the Stars.[52][53][54] She has also worked as a netball commentator for Sky Sport (New Zealand). Together with Tania Dalton, Anna Stanley, Natalie Avellino and Kathryn Harby-Williams, she was part of their commentary team for the 2007 and 2011 World Netball Championships.[55][56][57][58][59][60]

Date TV series Channel Role Episode
2001 The Machine Contestant
2001 What Now! 20th Birthday Special TVNZ 2 Self
2005 Dancing with the Stars[52][53][54] TV One Contestant 6 episodes
2006 Bro'Town Self (voice) 1 episode

Sources:[61]

Constitutional Advisory Panel

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Between 2011 and 2013, Mene served on the New Zealand Constitutional Advisory Panel.[11][62][63][64]

Honours

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New Zealand
Southern Sting
Individual Awards
Year Award
2003 New Zealand Order of Merit[1][2][16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "New Year honours list 2003". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b "New Year Honours: The complete list". www.nzherald.co.nz. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Story: The New Zealanders – Bernice Mene". teara.govt.nz. June 2000. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Discus: Mene has plans to follow the family business". www.nzherald.co.nz. 17 December 2001. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Netball: Beating Australia among Mene's special moments". www.nzherald.co.nz. February 2002. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Recruits in Bernice Mene Wing graduate". www.police.govt.nz. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Some make it big, others fade away". www.odt.co.nz. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  8. ^ Stephen Hollings (November 2017). "It's all in the Family" (PDF). tnfstatsandresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Netball: Champion Mene set for the final blast". www.nzherald.co.nz. 8 June 2002. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Villa Maria College netball team". discoverywall.nz. 12 June 1991. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d "Bernice Mene". nz.linkedin.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Victoria welcomes back its high achievers". stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Distinguished alumni awards". www.wgtn.ac.nz. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Dion and Bernice – The match of their lives". The Australian Women's Weekly. Angelfire. March 2003. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Dion Nash: 'Listen as much as you talk'". stuff.co.nz. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  16. ^ a b c "Sons and daughters of former All Blacks, Black Caps headline squads for inaugural cricket series". stuff.co.nz. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Disappointment and tequila: How sporting power couple Dion Nash and Bernice Mene met". stuff.co.nz. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  18. ^ "What the Kiwi gossip mags say". stuff.co.nz. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Young guns a bit hit-and-miss". www.odt.co.nz. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Netball's Mene benefits". www.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Sting History 1998". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Sting History 1999". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Sting History 2000". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Bernice Mene, Coca-Cola Cup..." www.photosport.nz. 22 May 2000. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Sting History 2001". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Sting History 2002". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Netball: Carter's new zip propels the Sting to upset". www.nzherald.co.nz. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Netball – (2001) Coca-Cola Cup Squads". www.nzherald.co.nz. 23 January 2001. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Netball: Sting beat Diamonds 52-43". www.nzherald.co.nz. 21 April 2002. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Rise of rival codes a new reality for netball". www.rnz.co.nz. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  31. ^ "The Southern Sting success story". www.rnz.co.nz. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  32. ^ "Mene mum on future as Sting celebrate". Angelfire. 10 June 2002. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Sting History 2003". www.sting.co.nz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Sting players show they still have it". www.odt.co.nz. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Former Silver Ferns Bernice Mene and Wendy Frew to assist NNZ's review". stuff.co.nz. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  36. ^ "'Top 25 of the Last 25' leave a lasting imprint". anzpremiership.co.nz. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  37. ^ "'Top 25 of the Last 25' leave a lasting imprint". www.netballnz.co.nz. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Netball: Captain's retirement takes all by surprise". www.nzherald.co.nz. February 2002. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  39. ^ a b c "Bernice Mene". www.silverferns.co.nz. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  40. ^ a b "Women Netball World Games 1993 The Hague". www.todor66.com. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  41. ^ a b "Bernice Mene, New Zealand..." www.photosport.nz. September 1998. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  42. ^ a b "Bernice Mene, New Zealand..." www.photosport.nz. September 1998. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  43. ^ a b c "Vitality Netball World Cup Liverpool 2019 Media Guide" (PDF). www.silverferns.co.nz. 19 July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  44. ^ a b c Brendon Egan (21 July 2019). "Tears, triumphs, and tribulations: How the Silver Ferns have fared at Netball World Cup". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  45. ^ a b "NZ Under 21 Flashback - Bernice Mene". www.youtube.com. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  46. ^ "Women Netball IX World Championship 1995 Birmingham". www.todor66.com. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  47. ^ "Women Netball X World Championship 1999 Christchurch". www.todor66.com. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  48. ^ "Bernice Mene, New Zealand..." www.photosport.nz. September 1999. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  49. ^ "Bernice Mene, New Zealand..." www.photosport.nz. 2 October 1999. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  50. ^ "Bernice Mene shines at Breakfast". www.mags.school.nz. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  51. ^ "Netball Academy". www.mags.school.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  52. ^ a b "No barriers for Bernice as she shines on the dance floor". www.nzherald.co.nz. 22 May 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  53. ^ a b "Far cry from the foxtrot for Bernice". www.nzherald.co.nz. 25 May 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  54. ^ a b "Dancing With the Stars NZ: The five biggest elimination shocks from previous seasons". stuff.co.nz. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  55. ^ "Bernice Mene, World Cup netball commentary from Sky television". www.photosport.nz. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  56. ^ "Bernice Mene, World Cup netball commentary from Sky television". www.photosport.nz. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  57. ^ "Jenny Woods, Bernice Mene, World Cup netball commentary from Sky television". www.photosport.nz. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  58. ^ "Bernice Mene, Tania Dalton, Anna Stanley, Kath Harby-Williams". www.photosport.nz. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  59. ^ "Q&A: Netball star Bernice Mene". stuff.co.nz. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  60. ^ "Bernice Mene Presenter Profile". johnsonlaird.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  61. ^ "Bernice Mene IMDB". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  62. ^ "'Good mix' in constitutional panel". www.nzherald.co.nz. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  63. ^ "Consideration of Constitutional Issues". www.parliament.nz. December 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  64. ^ "Constitution review panel denies 'hidden agenda'". www.nzherald.co.nz. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
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