Staff

Verna Parker (Sport & Young Persons Manager)

Verna comes from a physical education teaching background and has been with Sport South Canterbury since the office opened in Timaru. Verna’s key role now is one of local management, and working with health and local government in the community physical activity area. She has a wide interest in all sports, particularly netball having played, coached and administrated at a regional level.

Phone: 03 686 0751 Extn 0
Email: verna@sportcanterbury.org.nz

Lee King (Young Persons Advisor)

Coming from a fitness industry and community fitness background, Lee has been with the Active Schools team since 2007. Lee brings years of experience in fitness for health and wellbeing to the role, along with a passion for a wide variety of physical activities. She loves working within a busy school environment to assist and empower teachers as leaders of physical activity.

Phone: 03 686 0751 Extn 5
Email: lee@sportcanterbury.org.nz

Kane Newland (Sport Development Advisor)

Kane is an old boy of Timaru Boys High School. After leaving school Kane moved to the North Island and completed a degree in Sport Science at Massey University and worked as a professional tennis coach and Tennis Development Officer in Wanganui. He is pleased to be back in South Canterbury and is looking forward to working with local sports organisations.

Phone: 03 686 0751 Extn 4
Email: kane@sportcanterbury.org.nz

Caro Rhodes (Sea 2 Sea Coordinator)

Caro joined SSC in 09. Caro has previously worked in the Food Industry along with a passion for leading an active lifestyle playing competitive sports. Previously working with the Active Movement programme targeting Physical Activity for Children 0-5years, Caro now has taken on the role as the Sea 2 Sea Coordiantor for 2011. Having three children, Caro knows the importance of getting children active and the benefits of keeping active herself.

Phone: 03 686 0751
Email: caror@sportcanterbury.org.nz

Debbie Esler (Green Prescription Advisor)

Debbie has been working in Green Prescription at Sport South Canterbury since June 2007 after having a break from the workforce to start a family. She has a Physical Education Degree and has worked in the Fitness industry for several years prior to this. She enjoys the challenges associated with trying to promote physical activity to a wide variety of people and helping them improve and maintain their health.

Phone: 03 686 0751 Extn 1
Email: debbie@sportcanterbury.org.nz

Cathie Weith (Falls Prevention Coordinator)

Cathie has been living in New Zealand for 22 years from New York State. She has been involved in Secondary and Polytechnic teaching in Timaru. In addition to teaching Cathie started teaching Older Adult Fitness Classes and has continued for the past 19 years. She began the role of Falls Prevention Coordinator after working as Green Prescription Coordinator at Sport South Canterbury. Cathie enjoys working with older adults and hopes to help people over 65 in the South Canterbury area to “Stay On Their Feet”. Outside of the sports trust she is involved in her children’s and husbands sporting pursuits in hockey, skiing and mountain biking and enjoys getting to the gym for early morning spin.

Phone: 03 686 0751 Extn 2
Email: cathie@sportcanterbury.org.nz

Lee-Anne Lang (Administration and Programmes Coordinator)

Lee-Anne is a born and breed Timaruvian, competing, coaching and managing various sports in South Canterbury, often this is a supporting role for her 2 children who are actively involved in sport.

Lee-Anne has a passion for sport and previously worked as a sports co-ordinator.

Working at the Trust since 2007 Lee-Anne took on the role as Sea 2 Sea Co ordinator and administration support.

Phone: 03 686 0751 Extn 6
Email: lee-anne@sportcanterbury.org.nz