Ruth Aitken
Born in Paeroa in 1956, Ruth grew up to represent New Zealand on our national netball team. Ruth played goal-attack for the Silver Ferns who became joint winners of the 1979 World Netball Championships.
In the same year she married her husband and they both began their respective teaching jobs in Auckland.
In 1995 with two children the family returned to Paeroa giving Ruth the chance to focus on teaching and get back into netball.
Ruth left teaching altogether when she was offered the full-time position of Silver Ferns coach in 2001.
During her time as head coach, the Silver Ferns won the 2003 World Netball Championships as well as the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games.
In 2011 Ruth was named an officer in the New Zealand Order of Merit, and later that year retired from her role after a decade of service.
Ruth still lives in Paeroa with her husband Grant.
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