Born Hobart, Tasmania
5 January 1944
For many years prospects of Australian netball players to compete at international level were bleak. When such opportunities finally presented themselves through the introduction of World Championships at four-year intervals, Annette Simper seized them with both hands.
Twice she wore Australia’s colour at a world championship and twice Australia triumphed. She was the teams goalkeeper for the first of these tournaments at Eastbourne, England, in 1963 (when the sport was known in Australia as basketball) and played at the centre in the 1971 series at Kingston, Jamaica.
Early evidence of her extraordinary talent was reflected in her selection in the 1956 state senior team at the age of 15. She represented WA until 1974 and in seven of those years won All-Australian selection.
Her marriage to Peter Simper in 1964 was followed by two years of captaincy of WA (1965-66) and then selection for Australia for the world championships in Perth 1967. However, she was forced to withdraw due to the impending birth of her first child, Amanda.
Acknowledged as one of the finest defensive players produced in WA, Mrs. Simper was at home in any position on the court.
A member of the Royals club, she was an inspiring leader and was noted for her skill at reading the game. Her ability to anticipate the pattern of play enabled her to halt opposing attacks with timely interceptions.
She shared the 1962 University of WA Sportsman of the year award with champion swimmer David Dickson.
Apart from her fine record as a player, she was awarded an All-Australian Umpires Committee and All-Australian Coaching Development Committee. She also coached the ACT Under-19 team for three years while living in Canberra and was coach of the All-Australian under-21 team in 1984.