Read was recognised with one of the highest achievements of a sporting club, a life member.

Read said she was "very surprised and excited" to receive life membership.

"I am very humbled and proud to have received this honour to join some very important people at the club," she said.

"I knew nothing about it until the vote count when it was announced.

"They did a good job of keeping it a secret."

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Read began her SMW Rovers netball career back in 1990 where she started in the Under 13's.

Following in the Bibby family footsteps as a skilful young netballer, she quickly progressed through to the senior grades.

She played her first senior game in 1995 and has since accumulated over 300 senior games for the club in a career that has included a nine premierships, five runners up, multiple MDNA representative teams and an A grade best and fairest.

She has also been a badged umpire since 1999 and has held various senior and junior coaching positions during her time at the club.

Read has also been an asset off the court, being an active committee member for many years, holding the position of netball coordinator and has also been a league delegate for the MDNA.

"I would call it a labour of love, I have certainly put in a lot of hours," Read said.

"It was a very special thing to be acknowledged in the way that I was."

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SMW Rovers netball coordinator Angela Brain said Read's passion and dedication to the club was "quite remarkable".

"As impressive as her personal netball resume is, Jo is also a phenomenal club person," she said.

"She has personally been a huge help to me during my time as netball coordinator.

"In more recent times, Jo has been the go to girl for all things my netball and tech related.

"Her wealth of experience is valued by all the past and present netballers of Rovers.

"Jo Read is everything that a SMW Rovers Netballer should aspire to be - kind, generous, fiercely competitive on court, a helping hand around the club in every way and a dear friend to all."

Read becomes the third member of the Bibby family to be the recipient of a life membership, with her mother Barbara and sister Kate both former recipients of the award.

"l am quite sure that netball is in the genetic make-up of the Bibby family and it has been my privilege to work alongside Jo this year and to have learnt all aspects of the game and the league from a master," Brain said.

"We couldn't think of anyone more deserving."

Read said she has always and will continue to love the club.

"I have been a part of the club all of my life," she said.

"I grew up in Mininera, so five kilometres from the recreational reserve.

"It has always been a fantastic family orientated club and many fantastic memories.

"I am thrilled to have my kids (Robert, Sophie and Grace) begin their sporting careers at Rovers and wouldn't have been able to have done it all without the support of my husband Myles Read."

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