Whittaker's service to the Albury Netball Association began when she was just eights years old and would later see J.C King Park become her second home.

"I used to come here with my father and mum, who were on the committee," Whittaker said.

"All of the courts were dirt and we had to chip the bindis away and then get string lines and mark them.

"We were here at about six o'clock in the morning on a Saturday."

Beginning her netball journey as a player, Whittaker then took on coaching before becoming an active committee member and delegate.

"I went on the committee because one of the other coaches, she was the under-18s coach and I was the under-16s coach, wanted to take one of my players," she said.

"I said no, and she said, 'well if you want to change it, come on the committee and do your job to change it.'

"Anyway, I won and we're still friends."

Whittaker has now contributed over 50 years of service to the netball association, earning a court named in her honour back in 2012.

"That was a bit special," she said.

"They always said they'd throw my ashes around out there as well.

"I don't know if I want that though, I might find a better place for that."

Whittaker's still involved with Albury netball as a coach, leading the association's 11 and under representative players and facilitating the NetSetGo program.

She's also played an instrumental role in organising the Phoenix netball teams, ensuring juniors who don't have a team can be placed in one.

She admitted she likes working with the young players to help enhance their basic skills.

"Eleven and unders are like 'yes Marg, no Marg, how high would you like me to jump Marg?'" she said.

"I just love being involved with it."

Whittaker has seen many players come through the association, with Vixen turned Magpie Jacqui Newton one of the standouts.

"It's great to see them develop," she said.

"A couple of them have made state."

Not only has Whittaker contributed to netball in the border region, but also beyond, coaching, umpiring and managing regional teams, as well as working as a statistician.

She's seen many changes to the game.

"With the stats you'd have a piece of paper, then it went on a computer, and I don't know how to draw on a computer, so I gave it away," she said.

"I've been going to the World Netball Championships for over 30 years.

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"Last year's event in England was the first time I hadn't gone.

"They're on every four years and you get to know how much money's being put into women's netball.

"Now the girls don't even have to work.

"In days gone by they had to work and then get time off to train and then get into the Australian team and travel.

"It gets a bit more physical now, it's not a ladies game anymore."

Whittaker has also seen J.C King Park transform into what it is today.

"Before they'd play at Noreuil on grass," she said.

"That was always fun because you never knew where you weren't allowed to run.

"We started here with four courts and the buildings have all changed."

When Whittaker isn't at the netball courts, you can find her volunteering for St John Ambulance, teaching first aid training courses to workplaces.

Just recently she also visited fire affected areas to drop off uniforms, with more generous trips planned for later this year.

The former Xavier High School teacher also helped guide students, while fitting in a bit of school netball along the way.

"We had a team once called Clare's Bears," she said.

"Clare's Bears stayed together for a long time and eventually they graduated. I still see a couple of them every now and then."

When asked what has kept her in volunteer roles for so long, the answer was easy.

She simply wouldn't have it any other way.

"I just love people," she said.

"When I retired from teaching, I couldn't just sit at home.

"I have birds and dogs, but they don't talk back.

"My full-time job was from around 8am to 4pm, and I reckon I do that in volunteer hours just about."

Monday marks a special milestone for Whittaker as she prepares to ring in her 70th birthday.

Fittingly enough, she plans to celebrate at J.C King Park this weekend.

"I said to my daughter, I hate special functions, and she said, 'well, what do you want to do?'" Whittaker said.

"I said, just a cup of tea with some friends here, so that's what we're doing."

Albury Netball Association secretary and rep coordinator Leonie Mooney admitted the long-time volunteer has been a mentor for many over the years.

"Albury netball is indeed proud of our Marg and her phenomenal service and contribution to the success of Albury Netball Association over the last 50 years," Mooney said.

"As her second family, we love her dearly and enjoy her stories of days gone by, like the rise of computers, and road trips with Kevin (her partner) to deliver netball equipment to areas in need.

"Last week it was a delivery to communities in and around Bairnsdale who had been affected by fires, later in the year it's across the west and up north to indigenous communities who travel 300 kilometres for a game of netball.

"There isn't a thing Marg has not done to promote the sport of netball and to make it inclusive and accessible to all.

"For Marg, volunteering is a way of life, not done for accolades, but for the good of the game and the enjoyment it creates.

"She certainly is an inspiration to us all."

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