Alison Preston-Thomas

Alison Preston-Thomas (1927 to 2020), born Alison Ruth Hughes, was a New Zealand netball player and a teacher. She was a stalwart of the Canterbury provincial team for many years, for a time as captain, and played for Otago in 1949 while training at the Dunedin teachers' college. After Canterbury won the 1947 national championships she was chosen for the New Zealand side that met the touring Australians in 1948, and she was one of only two players to appear in all three Tests, scoring some fine goals in the first despite strong resistance. Australia won the series. She taught physical education at Avonside Girls' High School in Christchurch for many years, married in about 1963 and died in Wellington in January 2020, aged 92.